The mine's board chairperson, Nadim Makki, addressed journalists during a media briefing at the Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela’s offices at OR Tambo House in Bloemfontein on Wednesday.

He says several workforces have been asked to help with the mop-up operations following the Sunday 11 September 2022 mudslide disaster which killed two people, left one missing, scores injured and houses and infrastructure damaged.

ALSO READ: Houses, cars swept away by strong stream of water in Free State town | WATCH

Makki, however, said they will investigate the claims. OFM News previously reported that unhappy workers at the mine alleged that they were receiving text messages from mine bosses that they perceived as threatening.  

ALSO READ: Mine tells workers 'no work, no pay', despite being declared a disaster area

According to an anonymous source, the mine has allegedly been threatening 200 workers to report for duty, despite the area being declared a disaster area by the National Disaster Management Centre, after vigorous consultations with the provincial government. “How can we work if there is no work? Our contracts said no work no pay. But we feel this is a disaster, we cannot get the blame for that,” the source said.

The text message the anonymous source showed OFM News, reads: "Dear employee, as communicated to you, your union officials, shop stewards and employee representatives on various occasions. Your failure to return to work will be handled on a no work no pay basis. The company reserves all of its rights."

During the media briefing, Makki announced that the first R20 million dispatched by the mine was actually to help the efforts of the government in helping affected residents.

He said it was spent on food parcels, housing, and medical bills, amongst others. "We are going to continue spending from the mine. Yes, we are committed to rebuilding the houses and fixing whatever has been damaged,” Makki adds.

ALSO READ: Free State government remains committed to rebuilding Jagersfontein – WATCH

Yesterday, alongside various provincial departments, including Cogta, Premier Ntombela reinforced her government’s commitments to rebuilding and restoring the dignity of the Jagersfontein victims whose homes were destroyed by the mudslide disaster.

Premier Ntombela, was flanked by the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Mxolisi Dukwana, the mayor of the Trompsburg-based Kopanong Local Municipality, Xolani Tseletsele, from the mine's stakeholder relations, Billy Bilankulu, and the mine's board chairperson, Nadim Makki.

According to Cogta, residents will know if their houses will be built in the very same area or not once a geotechnical report, which speaks to the safety and habitability, is issued.

The Cogta Head of the Department (HOD), Tshepiso Ramakarane, said the government has a statutory obligation to restore infrastructure that was affected and has since confirmed that they will be working together with the mine. It’s understood that residents were set to receive some of the first built houses in December 2022 but it’s also further understood that residents rejected at least 40 houses measuring 40 square meters in Itumeleng, also known as “Skoti”.

OFM News