The New Age writes that the closure in 2012 of the diamond mines owned by De Beers in the small town of Kleinzee, in the Namakwa district, left thousands of people jobless. It also led to the closure of businesses and the migration of workers.
The population in the area dwindled from about 7,000 in 2012 to just under 1,000 today. Residents still remaining in the area complain there is nothing left but dilapidated buildings because the government has stopped infrastructure development. Meanwhile, De Beers has said it was trying its best to restore the area through the establishment of an oyster and an abalone farm just outside town. Also, the Nama Khoi municipality says there are plans in place to revitalise the area and create employment. “We plan to tar the road to Kleinzee T-junction, incorporate Eskom’s electricity network and remove illegal waste dumps,” the municipality indicated. It also plans to upgrade tourism attractions and multipurpose centres, and embark on solar water-heating and renewable energy projects.
- Read this report by Tiisetso Manoko in full at The New Age
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