RBM faces threat to operations
APROBE has been launched into the conduct of the police officers in the iMfolozi area to determine why they are “failing” to investigate cases of criminality linked to the labour dispute that is threatening the operations of the Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) mine.
Acting provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has ordered an analysis to be conducted on the cases open and being investigated in that area.
Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker said Mkhwanazi had “directed that detectives conduct an analysis of all case dockets to determine why there were no breakthroughs, including in the killing of a security guard in the area.
“The Acting Provincial Commissioner has also sanctioned an investigation into the conduct of police in the area to establish if they were fulfilling their obligations in terms of dealing with reported criminality. He has directed police officers to maintain public order in the area and ensure that there are no illegal gatherings. Those found gathering illegally will be arrested,” said Naicker.
The police response comes after KwaZulu-Natal Premier Willies Mchunu, in a hard-hitting statement on Sunday, expressed concerns about the performance of the police officers in that area, saying there had been no breakthroughs in the cases that have been opened.
“General Mkhwanazi must provide a full report into the conduct of the police in the iMfolozi area, and their role in the failure to investigate recent incidents around RBM,” said Mchunu.
Mchunu along with the MEC for Economic Development Sihle Zikalala and Community Safety MEC Mxolisi Kaunda held a terse meeting with the management of RBM – which is owned by mining giant Rio Tinto – last week as the company has threatened to permanently shut down operations due to violent attacks.
For the past few months the company has been under siege from disgruntled workers demanding better pay. The workers are employed through a labour broker.
They have been launching attacks on RBM transport and recently a 34-year-old security guard, Vusi Mhlenyane from RBM, was murdered leading to the operations being halted for safety concerns.
Mchunu said it was important that operations at RMB were not disturbed, as the company employed thousands of people and contributed more than a billion rand to the province’s finances.
Bold Baatar, chief executive of Rio Tinto Energy and Minerals said: “We are extremely grateful to the Premier and his MECs for taking time to come to Richards Bay and meet with me, my management team, our employees and our communities.
“This is a sign of the seriousness with which he takes the loss of our colleague and his desire to see that our people can safely go about their work.
“I look forward to working together to make RBM a safe place to work and to ensure that RBM can have a strong future,” he said.