Coal mine takes issue with ‘one-sided’ narrative
TENDELE Mine in Somkhele on the outskirts of Mtubatuba has taken issue with an independent report on the alleged trauma caused by opencast coal mining in the area.
The report titled ‘Everything for Dust: The Collective Trauma of Opencast Coal Mining on Residents in Somkhele, KZN’, was released on Tuesday via a webinar hosted by the NPO-ALL RISE.
The mine’s business development manager Nathi Kunene said it was ‘disappointing’ that ALL RISE had been ‘selective’ because it and the Mpukunyoni Traditional Council, among other stakeholders, were not afforded the opportunity to contribute to the report or participate in the webinar.
Kunene said ALL RISE represents the Mfolozi Community Environmental Justice Organisation (MCEJO), ‘the applicants in the review application [who] form part of the group that has taken Tendele to court and lost every time, and sadly are making every effort to close the mine’.
He said the mine, the traditional council, retrenched mine workers, ‘and no doubt the 20 000-odd community members benefitting from the mine’s operations’ did not provide input in the independent report.
“It speaks volumes that ALL RISE would host a webinar - a platform most of the community would not have the means to access," said Kunene.
“We were also informed by the [traditional council] mining committee chairperson [Mandla] Sibiya that after being informed of the webinar, he encouraged ALL RISE to rather host the meeting on the ground and in the community.
“This would [have allowed] for a wider range of participants and a more balanced perspective of the ‘trauma’ of opencast mining in the Somkhele area. Sadly, ALL RISE failed to respond to his request.”
Kunene said they were yet to receive the report for review, but hope to provide feedback in due course.
Residents compensated for losses
In response to the ‘major traumas’ outlined, Kunene said the people relocated to make way for the mine’s operations were compensated for any losses, including kraals, crops and other structures/assets at their homesteads.
“No family has been forced to relocate. Hence, we have 225 relocation agreements signed with those previously relocated, and agreements reached with 133 of the 143 required to relocate for the mine to access the new areas.
“Discussions with the remaining 10 are ongoing and we hope for a way forward soon,” said Kunene.
The compensation, he added, includes paying for any burial rites and rituals in instances where graves had to be relocated, and that no issues relating to a 'sense of belonging' were noted.
He said homesteads are provided with compensation for any loss of livelihood and assisted in the relocation of any business, such as a shebeen or tavern.
Health and conflict concerns addressed
Kunene said the mine has policies and procedures in place to ensure its operations have minimal impact on the health of local communities.
“Where complaints have been raised, the allegations have been investigated and even additional sampling done.
“Allegations of drinking water being contaminated with coal dust have been mentioned numerous times. Unfortunately, when we try to investigate these allegations, complainants do not come forward to provide information, or the tanks are empty when we try to test the water. When we have been able to send water samples for testing, there has been no evidence of coal dust.
“Should a particular homestead complain of dust contamination, the mine offers to install dust buckets to monitor if there is any impact on a particular household,” he said.
On the report’s claim that the mine’s operations contributed to community conflict and interpersonal violence, Kunene said the mine cannot control violence in the area, and that tensions have increased since its closure.
“The mine has made every effort to engage with a wide range of stakeholders, culminating in the signing of the Peace Accord in February 2021. MCEJO and ALL RISE [were] requested to work with the mine and sign the Peace Accord, and in fact, [were] asked to amend the Peace Accord where applicable, but sadly refused.”