This is according to a social activist in the area, Surprise Xhwantini, who told OFM News that the community is particularly unhappy about the fact that the mining community development trust established in its favour, does not consult with regards to decisions that affect it. Xhwantini said that since the establishment of the Itumeleng Community Trust in 2011, all they receive are financial statements but they are not consulted on which activities the trust will embark on as part of its social responsibility towards the mining community.

Xhwantini said that the trust is being run like a tuckshop by its chairperson, Sipho Puwani, and he further alleged that neither the board nor its trustees did not hold any meetings with the community. More disturbingly, he said after the trust was formed, it received R20 million cash for investment which was meant to be used on projects benefitting the community. However, as the community, they remain in the dark about whether or not this money has been used and if so, for which projects.

He also revealed that members of the community were also board members in the Trust but when quizzed about what goes on in meetings, the said board members alleged that they would not be able to divulge what went on in the board meetings as they had signed confidentiality agreements. He further said that the community felt undermined as a result of this and is calling on the ANC in the province as well as the provincial government to intervene. A march to the mines is set to take place on Thursday, 22 November, where the frustrated residents will raise this and other issues it has in a memorandum of demands it will hand over to the Kopanong Local Municipality, which it falls under.

OFM News