The residents in the small Free State town are questioning how the Itumeleng Community Trust, that was established in their favour, has been managed for seven years when the contract was only for three years as well. In addition to this, they’re calling for the trust’s independent and audited financial statements so they have more information on money the trust makes as well as how the money is utilised. OFM News’ Pulane Choane reports more…

 This comes after residents from the Free State town rallied a march today to the Jagersfontein Diamond Mine and handed over their memorandum of demands to an official from the provincial premier’s office. The community has appealed to the office for their intervention in the issues it faces and said they have given the office seven working days to respond to the demands in the memorandum.

OFM News earlier reported that as per information provided by Surprise Xhwantini, resident and social activist in the town, in 2011 when 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. The community was also told that it would own 10% of the mine but almost seven years later they remain as confused today as they’ve ever been as to how they own the mine and how they are to benefit from it.

Meanwhile, the residents said that as part of the demands in their memorandum, they are calling for the Jagersfontein Mine’s management to dissolve the mining trust herewith mentioned and said they can no longer foster ties with it as it has for many years not responded to their questions or involved them in the decisions it takes regarding the community’s social responsibility objectives. OFM News could not reach the chairperson of the ICT board, Sipho Puwani, for comment on allegations the community has made with regards to the mining trust.

OFM News