BY NOTHANDO MAKHUBELA
EMALAHLENI– Monday, 12 April, a group of unemployed men from Old Coronation Lekazi went to the Department of Mineral Resources offices in Emalahleni, protesting and handed over a memorandum of concern.
The community men in Old Coronation Lekazi are concerned about the mining activities operating nearby their area without being firstly consulted. The community also indicated that the mines operating in their area do not assist them with anything especially in giving jobs to them and the youth in Old Coronation. As it has been said that it’s been years now mines operating and they only hire people from outside Emalahleni nor Old Coronation. During the protests outside DMR offices premises, a community member in Old Coronation Lekazi , Abraham Kgwege told Timeless News said “ We are tired of our government giving permits to the people to have illegal mining. Emalahleni is full of many mines operating and with lots of outsiders being employed in the mines,” said Kgwege. “ We do have mines surroundings but still we suffer with hunger. Our children they are not being hired in the mines. We don’t even know who are those people hiring or who are in charge. The mines are causing lots of damage in our area, we have sustained lots of dust and houses cracking during the blasting in the mines,” he added.
The memorandum sent to DMR offices , indicated the issues relating such as employment, safety awareness and environmental issues. The community also demanded the removal of Manqoba Mahlangu who works with communities in the office of the speaker, at Emalahleni Local Municipality as he is also one of the Directors of the mines operating in Old Coronation.
Emalahleni Local Municipality responded on the allegations said that Mahlangu is operating in two jobs. Speaking on behalf the Municipality, spokesperson Lebohang Mofokeng said “ We can only confirm that we know Mahlangu as an employee of the Municipality and as for his other personal issues we are not aware of any. So I will not further comment,” said Mofokeng
