RESIDENTS RUE RELOCATION
Mining giant is blamed
VILLAGE residents gave up their ancestral homes to make way for major mining operations, but now, 14 years after their relocation, live in houses built on land they do not own.
This information is contained in a recent report by civil organisation Bench Marks Foundation (BMF), which draws a bleak picture of how life turned miserable for the community of Magobading near Burgersfort in Limpopo after they were moved to make way for Anglo Platinum mining operations.
The report documented life before and after the community’s relocation. According to the report, the relocation of people from villages including Maotsi, Makobakobe and Botshabelo started in 2002, a year after Anglo Platinum announced plans to develop a mine in those areas.
The report stated that the community lost adequate water access, and their arable and grazing land, in exchange for poor compensation while their livelihoods were negatively impacted on. It said each household was offered R20 000 compensation while the company also committed to building homes for the families
Other key findings were that the company had no regard for the community’s heritage and that there was no evidence of an environmental impact assessment.
William Mahlaokoana, 33, a resident of Magobading, said life was never the same after his family was moved. “We expected a better life but nothing good has come out of the relocation.”
He said, before, people used to live in bigger houses with spacious yards compared to the small space provided for by the mining company. “Our yards are small here. You can’t even put up a kraal.”
He said they were also troubled by the fact that they did not possess the title deeds to the land on which their houses were built.
“We don’t feel secure here. Anyone can come and evict us at any time and we will be homeless.”
Another resident, Ronny Tshehlakgolo, said families were struggling to survive because they cannot plough or keep livestock like before. “We had arable land and we could eat. There is no land here, people survive on social grants,” Tshehlakgolo said.
He said the company also failed to fulfil its initial promise to employ two people per household.
Isaac Maleka said there was no proper consultation during the relocation processes.
“We want Anglo Platinum to come and correct the mess they have created,” Maleka said.
The report also stated that the company signed a memorandum in 2010 agreeing to resolve a list of issues raised by the community, including sorting out the water problem, providing arable land and securing title deeds.
However, the company has apparently fulfilled the promise to fix roofs that were damaged by termites since the memorandum was signed.
Spokeswoman for Anglo American Platinum Mpumi Sithole said the company had noted the report but could not comment yet.
“The company has not had an opportunity to review the findings and recommendations, and as a result cannot comment further on the contents until such time that a review has been conducted.
“The company is encouraged by the ongoing engagements with the Magobading community to resolve outstanding issues,” Sithole said.