BY Obakeng Maje
Taung is one of the richest towns concerning minerals in South Africa, and the town itself is poverty-stricken as unemployment is one of major issues faced by the community.
Despite that,the land of Batlhaping ba-ga Maidi and Phuduhutswanana is very rich regarding minerals like oil and diamond,but the stumbling block is resources per se.
The community is ruled by most powerful men by name of Tshepo Mankuroane and Nnyoko Motlhabane who are both young. There is a non-operative mine in town,just down the area near Taung Dam, between Cokonyane and Manthestadt where we saw most Mining companies flocking there to get their fair share of the minerals there. Some of those companies were operating without consent of the community and its leaders.
The latest perpetrators were Taung Giant Diamond Mining, who were allegedly operating with a fraudulent documents. The chief Nnyoko Motlhabane took the matter to court were it took almost a year before the solution can be reached,eventually The Taung Giant Mining company’s licence was suspended.
We spoke to Chief Nnyoko Motlhabane who confirmed that the talks are at advanced stage and soon things will come together. ” We can outline that we are at very high level of negotiations with the government to obtain our Mining licence. We have raw minerals and our land is very rich,so our aim is to make sure we are in fully operation as soon as we can” he said.
Last year the Chief and his crew were engaged in talks with Minister of Minerals to be granted the licence of operation and we are in position of the video captured during that meeting. Motlhabane continues”To the community of Taung, we are really working tirelessly claim back what is rightfully ours. The Taung Giant Diamond Mining company obtained their licence fraudulently and never benefited the community. We do not want people who come and put their needs first before community. We will fight for what belong to our community and make sure they benefit from it” he outlined.
He promised to call all Batlhapings for a general meeting where they will inform them about any new developments.
Taung falls under Dr Ruth Segomotso Mompati District.
Taung
Location
On the N18 between Vryburg and Jan Kempdorp.
Interactive Map
History
Taung “The Place of the Lion” named after Tau, chief of the Bataung people, who made his headquarters here during the 18th century
Taung – the “place of the lion” made world headlines when Australian anthropologist Professor Raymond Dart made a startling find here in 1924. The little Taung skull, which he classified as Australopithecus africanus, belongs to one of the earliest hominids that lived in southern Africa some 2.5 million years ago.
Attractions
Taung Skull Heritage Site
A monument to the discovery of the Taung skull has been erected at this historic site.
Blue Pools
A popular picnic site at the Buxton quarry at the Taung Heritage Site. In a picturesque valley with caves, streams and rock pools which lies close to the site where the skull was discovered. Barbecue facilities, set alongside a pristine spring winding through an ancient limestone valley.
Boipelo Game Reserve
Boipelo is a small reserve forming part of the Tusk Hotel complex, consisting of 150 hectare of bushveld. This bushveld reserve supports seven different species of wildlife and more than 100 bird species. Visitors may enjoy game viewing either on mountain bikes (provided by the hotel), or along hiking trails of varying length.
Dinkwaneng
Some excellent examples of San Bushman engravings can be viewed at the Dinkwaneng site situated approximately 20km from the centre of Taung, near the Manthe village.
Taung Dam
A perfect picnic spot, 17km out of town on the Kolong River.
Mmabana Cultural Centre
A modern social and educational centre offering locally produced arts and crafts. A short distance east of the village.
The Guardian 
Dinkwaneng, the right name is Dinkgwaneng,
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Yes we all know Taung e rich,Good people there is a Socio Economic Development Strategy In place it is clear,ke hela go bale tsela e ferosang dibete mo gae ya gore information ya morafe e fitlhelale batho bangwe e seng morafe ka kakaretso jaka go tshwanetse Le molao o letla,Traditional Council ya Rona e nale matla Batlhaping ke hela ke bagolo janong batho baba ko mahikeng ba dira jaka ba ba tla mo tlhogong TSA bagolo ko befelong ka go tlhoka kitso ga morafe rebe rere Segosi ga se bereke,seo ESE nnete are re itepatepanyeng Le go bala,nna ga otle go nkwalela melao ga ke sena go e amogela gape ke wena o batlang go o roba nyaa Batlhaping molao ga o itirelwe wa diragadiwa,THE Constitution is the supreme law of the republic, law or conduct inconsistent with it is invalid,and the obligations imposed by it must be fulfilled.
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That’s good news,know the question is was consultation done in a miner that is fair, who are the main beneficiaries of The Taung’ God given right,why is it so difficult in this modern society for people to avail documentation for the directly affected communities to read for themselves. I can proudly say I can give you more than one reason to nalify this permit,community beneficiation is always the issue,because the so called investors treat it as a favour and of which is stipulated by the law. O tsena jang mo ga motho o be o mo tlela ka melao Le teng e sa kopanelwa ele e dirilweng ke wena kowa for your own interest and for the benefit of you fellow friends, Morena pelo e senang phufa selo yabo ese sa yone, nna Taung mo go nna ga se lehelo hela ke legae,ga Batlhaping ba ka itse se permit e tlang ka sone ntumele ga kere ba go ema ka setlhare,please just Google mining right in your community and see to ask relevant question to relevant officials
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Batlhaping redirang janong,ka gore lefatshe la rona le rich jaka go boiwa,re tlhoka di tiro n bogosi ekete ga botsibogele taba ee bo wick.
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Great People of Taung;Political incarceration in what we server from.we are dictated to by political parties that enforce agendas that has nothing from our people.We are free man and women and can govern our own communities to better depressant our issues right down to parliament. I vote for independence within all taung local wards so government can make time to come talk to the people of taung on matters concerning Taung.
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I was in taung last week friday for a site inspection. There is a proposed diamond mine along the Hartsrivier close to the hospital. My job as an Environment Assessment Practitioner is do determine the Social, Economic and the Environmental impacts and how can the three be mitigated.
Most of our communities that are rich in minerals are poor and this is because they dont have:
– Knowledge of the minerals they are housing;
– machineries or skills for mining; and
-Sadly, some communities dont even have interest.
This causes big mining companies to mine the mineral without investing back to the communities or the Zama Zamas to mine the area illegally.
Back to my site visit: I found that a land portion along the Harts river (upstream of the new bridge being constructed) has been mined extensively and worse there is no rehabilitation that took place. That to me indicated that it was an illegal mining operations which has to be curbed. It is the duty of us all to project the environment and to maintain and promote sustainable operations/environment.
Rgd
Mpho (073887203)
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It is sad to hear that mining in our own land , is done illegally . Whereas ,the indegenous people , Batlhaping-ba-ga-Maidi , we are suffering on a daily basis . Our leaders should really lead our community , and not to get involved in corruption . Making deals with some companies behind our backs . I hope that is not the case where they allow them to mine then share privately with them forgetting their own people
Regards
Tebogo
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If there’s minerals there why this too much talking instate of doing, please mense do not mislead our people, yes lime was there,paraffin eish! Yona is a problem and diamonds are there but is just a mere deposit(alluvial) not so much to relly on, Batlhaping there’s no such a thing like mines at Taung.
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Look now we have Mmabana,Blue Pool ,Taung sun and our Cover Ground, just pass there loook inside hmmmmmm is dessart, but Taung is the rich town ijooo.
Emagine about the Thommeng <Buxtine we have Lime there,what we people of Taung about that area only politics, am sure if you guys can you goggles check in south Africa how many places/company that produces Lime are few,but Taung is there doing nothing about that Lime. How many country that their looking Lime outside ijoooo ask the Taung Politician no nothing, is only the economist that can tell you and Department of mineral and energy but through rwith our Kings.
Minerals are there at Taung, we can mission those minerals, but were are the licence of those minerals
Kings and Landowners
To get licence is easay if you know to follow the protocol
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I want to know the history that Kgosi Motlhabani Mahumapelo was the main chief years ago , how come we never hear of any of his surname sake
Concerned : wa-ga Maidi
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The dispute of Taung when can be resolved actually is the daily tactics, we the children of Taung, fight it doen,st solve any problem
When Taung will settle solve they problems, since i was finishing at school they tell us Taung is rich <Taung is rich where, where
Country are developed outside we talk one language Taung is rich ,Taung is rich where
Lets wake up guys minerals are there people (political) are hold another people hands e.g political people look there on the political issue and give the Economical people look they jobs on the minerals you political come later.Look now our town Taung every year it come poor, poorest, because of what Economic is down
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Your Statement that Taung has Oil… that is very wrong and unfounded!
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Taung does have oil…if you did not know,now you know!!!
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I wud encourage our leaders 2 work on dat so dat our community cud stop suffring n plz thy must mk sure thy hire de community first
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Thump up
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Come on now guys! Can we have the source on this unfounded fact as you are claiming it???
“…is very rich regarding minerals like oil and diamond”
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Can you clear your statement please…where are unfounded facts Thabs?
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There are diamonds in Taung and a lot of them…we were there when chief Motlhabane and Mr Matshane came with surveyers and different mining moguls who confirm those minerals.
You can obtain the DVD if you want it!!!
Enjoy!!!
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How AND WHERE can one claim a DVD
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And one thing for sure a source is a source..that means is someone who want to remain anonymous…so as much as we inform you,we cannot jeopardize our working relationship with our moles!!!
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I want a job
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