Lilita Gcwabe reports in Elitsha that since April, children in Motlhlotlo Village in Mogalakwena Municipality, have had no transport to school. The village is 3 km from the main road, near an Anglo American Platinum mine. Village residents claim the mine cut transport services to push them off the land to relocate.
Community Response: Dorcas Mda (57) a long-term resident, highlights that most children attend a school 20 km away, the mine has used various tactics over the years to force residents off the land, including a surveillance robot vehicle which circles the area to intimidate them.
Impact on Education: Seritarita Secondary School has empty classrooms due to scheduled blasting by the mine. Mda fears the lack of transport will cause children to fail and remain uneducated.
Forced Evictions: Residents received a court order on June 14 to vacate the land within 30 days. Caroline Mothwa (67) recounts her house was demolished without notice, leaving her family homeless and scattered. Mothwa attempted to seek police assistance but was advised against opening a case against the mine.
Food and Compensation Issues: Elderly women in the village, including Mothwa, report that R1,500 food vouchers from the mine in compensation for their relocation and loss of household food farming have been stopped, causing hunger. They demand either the return of vouchers or the land for farming again.
Legal and Consultation Aspects: Since 2008, relocation of the villagers has been contentious. Tarisai Mugunyani, an attorney at the Centre of Environmental Rights, explains the legal requirements for meaningful consultation and compensation under the Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Development Act (MPRDA). In Motlhlotlo Vilklage the community feels these consultations were incomplete and inadequately addressed.
Anglo-American’s Response: Keitumetse Masik, Acting Head of Communications for Anglo-American, states 900 households have been resettled since 2008, with only 11 remaining. The mine claims due legal process is followed and offers temporary accommodation and new house designs for remaining households.
Future Steps: The situation awaits further response from the Department of Mineral and Resources regarding the eviction and resettlement processes.
“They [the mine] sent a sheriff on 14 June to give us letters as the community saying that we should leave our land. We are asking that President Cyril Ramaphosa comes to Mothlohlo. We are asking the chiefs to come. We are asking for Minister of Minerals, Mr Mantashe, to come. We are asking for the Department of Education to come…”
