President Cyril Ramaphosa, Limpopo premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba and Robert Frieland executive co-chair of Ivanhoe Mines during the opening ceremony of Ivanplats Platreef Mine in Mokopane. Picture Credit: Mogalakwena Municipality
By Montsho Matlala
Mokopane — Despite protests from sections of the surrounding communities, President Cyril Ramaphosa, accompanied by Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba, officially opened the Ivanplats Platreef Mine near Mokopane on Tuesday.
Ramaphosa praised the multi-metal mine for creating local employment opportunities and investing in community infrastructure.
“This is the first mine to open with full involvement of communities, with some local people being equity owners. I am particularly pleased with the establishment of the Masodi Wastewater Treatment Works by this mine. We understand that 20% of the mine’s BBBEE shareholding structure is allocated to a community trust benefiting 20 local host communities,” the president said.
While government officials and dignitaries ululated during the ceremony, some community members held placards demanding greater transparency in recruitment processes and the awarding of business contracts to local entrepreneurs.
On social media, community member Isaac Mapoga criticised Ramaphosa for “ignoring” local grievances regarding alleged irregularities and inadequate land compensation related to the mine’s operations.
“Our president has talked tough about illegal mining, yet he seems to be condoning this particular one where numerous irregularities were flagged but ignored,” Mapoga wrote.
Ivanhoe Mines executive co-chair Robert Friedland backed Ramaphosa’s remarks on community equity, adding that his company had “never taken a single penny out of South Africa” in its more than 25 years of operating in the country.
The Canadian-owned Mokopane operation produces platinum, palladium, rhodium, nickel, copper and gold concentrates. The mine is located near the villages of Masodi, Tshamahanzi, Mzombani and Magongwa.
