Operations at the Kalgold mine in Kraaipan in the North West were affected when residents took their grievances to the streets.
Residents of Kraaipan, Madibogo and Setlagole barricaded the N18 and accused the mine, which falls under Harmony Gold, of not complying with its Social Labour Plan (SLP).
Community leader, Justice Macucwa, accused the mine of failing to comply with the Mining Charter by falsifying documents every five years which state that they have done projects to develop the communities when they haven’t.
“We found that in their report they claim to have been complying with their Social Labour Plans which include the mining community development, the cooperative and social investment, the bursaries and learnerships. Yet the mine has failed to do all of the above mentioned in line with the Mining Charter.
“We feel that Harmony Mine should have built hospitals, schools and training centres for the Ratlou communities. We also need the mine to build strong bridges and proper roads around our communities and also ensure that people get clean water. We need to be given a first priority than any outsiders in terms of employment,’’ said Macucwa.
However, Harmony Gold Stakeholder’s relations manager, Khaya Magadla, refuted the residents’ allegations and said in 2021 the mine was given Section 93, part of which is SLP compliance.
“We submitted Section 93. It was in the same year that the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) expected us to respond to the issues of SLP and other related issues. We then submitted our responses in the same year. However, the team was expected to come back to us if ever they needed any further information. But the DMR did not get back to us,” Magadla said.
The department of mineral resources is yet to respond on the matter.
