Author: Mpho Manyaapelo

Infighting among the residents living in mining communities has been blamed for the slow implementation of Social Labour Plans (SLP) that mining companies have to implement to ensure that infrastructure is developed and jobs are created to improve the living standards of the beneficiaries. This is according to the Minerals and Energy Regulator’s North West regional manager Phumudzo Nethwadzi who was giving an update of the status of SLP implementation at the two day North West Mining and Energy Investment Conference on Friday, in Sun City, outside Rustenburg. North West is a mineral rich province but remains largely impoverished with…

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe is calling on mining companies to implement Social Labour Plans (SLP), in the areas in which they do business. Most of the areas in the North West Province including in Marikana where many of the mining workforce stays, lack basic infrastructure such as running water and proper housing resulting in a series of protests by the disgruntled residents. Mantashe was speaking at the North West Mining and Energy Investment Conference on Thursday, in Sun City, outside Rustenburg. He said mining houses must comply and they have to pull their resources…

The Deputy President Paul Mashatile said measures have been put in place to fast-track the implementation of the tuberculosis (TB) recovery plan in order to eradicate the disease by 2030. Mashatile was speaking at the World TB Day commemoration, which was held in Tlhabane Stadium, in Rustenburg, North West, on Friday. The Deputy President said the treatment of the disease was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the high number of unregulated settlements in the province are the cause for exposure to diseases such as TB. “We have already started finding undiagnosed people with TB through interventions that…

It was business as usual in Rustenburg as about 400 supporters of the EFF marched to the local municipality as part of the national shutdown for President Cyril Ramaphosa to step down and for load shedding to end. EFF Member of Parliament, Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi, who joined the Rustenburg protesters, said she was satisfied with the fact that some local businesses heeded the call to close their businesses. Mkhaliphi said the EFF members will continue to protest until midnight. “As you know today is a #NationalShutdown, it’s a demonstration, so we are picketing, we’re just demonstrating that nothing has to move…

The State is ready to proceed with the Marikana case against the 17 accused of murder and other serious charges, which were committed in Marikana in 2012, according to the National Prosecution Authority (NPA). The accused appeared before the High Court, North West Division, sitting at the Mogwase Regional Court on Wednesday. The accused are charged with 7 counts of murder, 4 of malicious damage to property, 4 of robbery, 3 for unlawful possession of firearms and 3 for unlawful possession of ammunition. According to the NPA Regional Spokesperson, Henry Mamothame, the charges are related to the labour disputes between…

Production has been halted at three of Samancor Western Chrome Mines operations in Rustenburg, North West, as residents protest demanding that the mine employ locals. The protesters have alleged the mine is operating a business on their land without paying rent nor extending opportunities to them. Chairperson of an NGO known as Greater Kroondal Business Cluster Clearance Mmolotsi and the leaders of the protest saidSamancor will not be allowed to continue its mining activities until it meets the community’s demands. “We will shut down this mine’s operations until the management responds to our demands. As locals we will no longer…

The Rustenburg Regional Court, has postponed the case against a Former EFF Chairperson, Betty Diale, to 21 and 22 June 2023, for trial. Diale is facing six charges of theft, amounting to approximately R700 000, allegedly stolen from the Road Accident Fund (RAF) claimants. NPA North West regional spokesperson Henry Mamothame said the pre-trial conference was completed and the State has provided Diale with all the necessary documents in preparation for trial. Diale, an attorney by profession, has indicated to the court that she will be representing herself. Police reports reveal that Fidelity Funds, a body that oversees the conduct…

Small-scale farmers in the North West, said some of the challenges they face which impede their growth are a lack of capital, climate change, transport and labour. This emerged at a three-day seminar in Sun City called the Provincial Agricultural Market Access Summit and hosted by the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Dard) to try and address challenges faced by small scale farmers trying to enter into a market dominated by established commercial producers. The summit, held under the theme “Linking North West Smallholder Farmers to Market, brought the mining industry, the hospitality sector and farmers together…

Hebron police,outside Brits, North West have asked the community of Hebron to assist them find a 20-year-old man named Mpho Mpindo who went missing and was last seen on Tuesday 23 August 2022 when he said he was on his way to Joburg. However, the police said he never reached his destination. Myburgh said during Mpindo’s disappearance, he was wearing a black short trouser, black long sleeved T-shirt and a pair of blue sneakers. She said Mpindo is brown in complexion, has short hair and is petite. At the time of his disappearance Mpindo lived at Michasview Section, Kgabalatsane village,…

The Water and Sanitation department (DWS) has warned communities around the North West to stay clear of rivers, streams, canals, and dams during the rainy seasons as it anticipates opening dam walls in order to reduce water levels. The department said it expects water released from the likes of Bloemhof and Vaal dams to move at a high speed and to possibly flood some of the rivers. Water affairs spokesperson Wisane Mavasa said the department will be taking some safety precautions as it starts releasing water from dams, “We caution the North West communities to stay clear of rivers, streams,…