RBM engages Kwasokhulu community
CONFLICT between the unemployed locals of Kwasokhulu outside Richards Bay and Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) has forced the mining company to halt operations.
RBM is a subsidiary of Rio Tinto and extractors and refiners of mineral sands. For months, the company within the Kwasokhulu community has been plagued with violence. The most recent casualty was mine manager Nico Swart, who was gunned down in May by unknown assailants on his way to work.
The closure of the operations was said to have had an impact on the economy.
RBM reported a direct national economic contribution of R8 billion for the year 2020. This figure included salaries and wages for over 5 000 employees, plus mining royalties and taxes paid to local and national governments. Local communities benefited from social projects estimated to be worth over R43 million.
Of the R5.5bn in additional services and goods procured, R1.5bn was spent on local municipal businesses and over R500m in its communities, helping to strengthen economic development.
Kwasokhulu youth chairperson Lucky Nhleko said the latest unrest, which had led to the shutdown in operations, was induced by failure to consider locals for the available permanent positions at the mine. He said despite the mine having been operating for over 40 years in the community, there had never been opportunities created for permanent employment of local people.
Nhleko said 173 candidates had applied for positions in May, but only 43 met the job requirements and were shifted to the next round of online assessments. None of them progressed further, however, despite a handful already being employed within those positions as contractors.
When new permanent employees were to begin their duties on June 1, the community drew up a memorandum presenting their concerns to RBM, Nhleko said.
“We wanted to know why the mine was side-lining and overlooking the community, yet they have been part of us for decades.”
Nhleko said some of the issues raised were that seepage was damaging the environment and the dust from the mineral sands was badly affecting the community.
“RBM decided to freeze the posts and to have a meeting on June 4, to respond to the issues raised by the community, however, mine management did not honour their word,” Nhleko said.
“RBM had been playing hide and seek all along until Wednesday, when we were summoned to a meeting with the chief, the community disaster management structure and the company.”
The new offer on the table for the youth of Kwasokhulu was a guaranteed 40% to 50% of positions, but they will be re-advertised online. Community members will be trained and assisted with preparing their CVS. Interns will be absorbed within the graduate development programme, while small businesses will be registered with the supplier development programme. Experts will be visiting the community to assess damage to the houses by water seepage.
Zanele Zungu, RBM spokesperson, said they were working closely with the office of the premier, the SAPS and the national government to address security issues in a sustainable manner.
“It is true that in recent weeks we have faced serious challenges, with business disruptions orchestrated by criminals which have put our people at risk and resulted in costly destruction and theft of property. We are concerned with escalating tensions, given the fluidity and volatility of the current community unrest targeted at our people, operations and assets.”
Nhleko emphasised that there had been no violence from the community, but alleged that the police had shot at community members during their protest.
“There were elders within the group because we were not just addressing unemployment, but everything else. About ten people were injured.”
Police did not respond to security questions surrounding RBM.