Chairperson Winnie Ngwenya tells OFM News that the Members of Parliament are currently on an oversight visit to assess the impact and role these mining companies play in the lives of communities. She says numerous complaints have been registered with them by disgruntled residents who accused the mining companies of neglecting their responsibilities and duties. Ngwenya says these residents alleges that they are not benefiting whilst the companies continue to make fortunes via mining activities with the help of their communities. Ngwenya says the Northern Cape has about 8% of the work force in the mining industry and contributes 23,4% to the province’s economy.

“The focus on the Northern Cape Province is designed to develop a greater understanding of service delivery challenges that may be unique to mainly rural provinces, with widely dispersed communities that are often not within close proximity to service infrastructure such as tarred roads, electricity supply grids or municipal offices,” she adds. She says the province contributes immensely towards the iron mining industry in the country.

“Mining contributes 23.4% to the Northern Cape economy and makes up nearly 7% of SA’s total mining value with significant deposits of iron ore, manganese, zinc, copper, lead, titanium, pig iron, zircon and gypsum. The availability of natural resources, labour and infrastructure (including the Sishen-Saldanha railway line), make Sishen the country’s most important iron-ore mine, where operations include extraction and four beneficiation plants,” Ngwenya further adds.

OFM News