By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
The situation at Glencore Rhovan Mine in Bethanie is back to normal. This comes after operations were brought to a grinding halt for four weeks by irked community members, who complained about lack of employment.
The mine workforce comprises 65% of the local community members.
The situation prompted the acting North West Premier, Nono Maloyi to establish the technical team led by the North West MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism (DEDECT), Virginia Tlhapi, acting Head of Department (HOD) at DEDECT, Lebogang Diale and Head of Department (HOD) at the North West Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Dr Ben Bole to intervene in the impasse.
The Bakwena ba Mogopa Tribal Authority under the stewardship of Kgosi Motheo Mamogale, owns 26% stake of Rhovan operations. Mamogale said after three weeks of negotiation between the North West Provincial Government (NWPG), Rhovan Glencore Mine and community leaders, agreed on short, medium and long term solutions, with employment of fixed term workers being an immediate measure.
“Seventy workers will be employed immediately and another batch of 70, will be employed in July 2014, for a minimum of 6 months’ period in different projects, including the establishment of a solar power farm.
“Through the SLP, the mine has amongst others built Bethanie Clinic, Barseba, Makolokwe and Bethanie Sports Facility, built ablution facilities at the local schools and has entered into Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Magalies Water and Rustenburg Local Municipality to supply bulk water to the locals,” he said.
Mamogale further said the mine is also skilling the local community members for employment and to be business ready. He added that, furthermore, the mine empowers locals through training and development interventions including bursaries, learnerships, scholarships, internships, business studies through GIBS.
Tlhapi said it is satisfying with what the negotiations have yielded. She said she believes that more will be done to bring stability, improving the relations between the mine and the community and creating more opportunities.
“We are delighted to announce that the community has agreed to opportunities presented to them by the mine as a short-term measure. We will resolve other issues raised, which included the businesses after creating legitimate structures in the areas.
“We intend to host community meetings in all Bakwena ba Mogopa villages to form structures that will champion the interest of the communities. The provincial government also intends to oversee the formation of the Board of Trustees as soon as possible, which will be accountable to the mine royalties of Bakwena Ba Mogopa and further create socio-economic opportunities for all,” said Tlhapi.
Meanwhile, the Chief Operation Officer, Adriaan Brugman said Rhovan is a Glencore open cast managed mine operation in Bethanie. Its mineral deposit comprises vanadiferous, titaniferous, magnetite gabbro, with vanadium occurring in the magnetite.
Brugman said Rhovan remains committed to empowering their host communities so that they thrive with good education, better health facilities and with business and employment opportunities.
“We have employed 649 workers and 65% are from the Bakwena Ba Mogopa villages and we have about 380 on fixed term contracts of which 86% are locals. All employment and business opportunities are advertised on our information portal to ensure fairness and transparency.
“We are creating other opportunities through the implementation of the Social and Labour plans. The current SLP is yet to be approved. This is worrisome because we want to implement projects and unlock more opportunities,” he said.
TaungDailyNews 