Sungula Nkabinde reports that the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) hearing on the underlying socio-economic challenges of mining-affected communities heard more evidence of Social and Labour Plans (SLPs) that have failed to benefit the people for which they are supposedly intended.  

Mampa Serole Tribal Community representative Tebogo Sekgobela mentioned Anglo American Platinum’s Twickenham mine, which has been placed on care and maintenance and has retrenched about 1,000 people, as a project that was expected to transform his community’s economic fortunes, but did not do so.  It’s an experience not dissimilar to many of the community representatives that made submissions at the hearing.  Amplats’ Seara Mkhabela claimed, however, that despite challenges the company has completed most of the SLP projects it has committed to over the last five years.  Amplats, along with Impala Platinum and African Rainbow Minerals have been asked to reply to questions when the hearing resumes at an undisclosed date.

• Read this report in full at Mineweb

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page