Thu May 23 13:35:07 SAST 2013

NGO slates 'uncaring mining houses'

Oct 17, 2012 | Olebogeng Molatlhwa | 39 comments

A STUDY by the Benchmark Foundation, a local non-governmental organisation, has found that mining companies have little regard for the communities in which they operate.

Comments

Thu May 23 13:35:07 SAST 2013 ::
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Oct 17, 2012

warry

Mines won't care cause politicians who should ensure compliance are deeply involved in the corruption happening. They are shareholders, demands bribes, unions are enterprising, etc. What do you expect.
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Oct 17, 2012

!!!Sinudeity!!!

Kumla ore gave its employees up to R500,000 worth of options last year, and now they are striking again. But about to be fired, and stand to lose all their benefits.

As for housing and schooling, why is it up to companies to provide housing and schooling for its workers and for the communities? Isnt this the responsibility of the government?
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Oct 17, 2012

Mgaraji

!!!Sinudeity!!!
One thing black people must learn from white folks: Blindly defend one of your own at all cost, its help unite white community.
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Oct 17, 2012

!!!Sinudeity!!!

Mgaraji - You mean like how ANC supporters defend their incompetent and corrupt government?

I find it rediculious how responsibility of the government, in providing schooling and uplifting communities is now shifted to the responsibility of private companies.
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Oct 17, 2012

Mgaraji

!!!Sinudeity!!!
These mining companies apply for mining licence on the card of providing schools and uplift communities and licences are granted on that condition. Now it news to you little liar. If you are not vested on the issue, just shut your stinking apartheid mouth up.
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Oct 17, 2012

mesip

Mgaraji - that kind of an outlook has worked for Whites because they are a minority (which also happens to control the economy of this country). No normal society can prosper with such a culture. We need to be better than them by exercising integrity in everything we do. Remember a lot still needs to be done to address the mess they created. We cannot afford to act as cowards & losers they were & still are. Remember that Truth always prevails.(Yes there were/are Whites like Beyers Naude etc who had/have integrity, but from where I stand they are just a minority).
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Oct 17, 2012

Mogwapatholo

@!!!Sinudeity!!! it part of the deal, when the mining rights are given to a company there is a section in the agreement that deals with the social responsibility of the comunity. it not only a right to the community but an obligation to the mining compaty.

i don't know if these leaders even understand comflict of interest, one big organization that has serious conflict of interest is cosatu.
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Oct 17, 2012

!!!Sinudeity!!!

Mgaraji - Why you calling me a lair? Did I say that mines didnt acquire licences on condition that they provide for the community?


"If you are not vested on the issue, just shut your stinking apartheid mouth up"

Whats wrong? You got sand up your vag today?
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Oct 17, 2012

Mgaraji

mesip
You are spot on. I was just hilighting their blind support for each other. Your analysis is correct.
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Oct 17, 2012

!!!Sinudeity!!!

mesip - Err... the problem in South Africa isnt with whit3s... Its not white folks that need to rething their outlook on life.
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Oct 17, 2012

maditaba

You needed an expensive study to know that?
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Oct 17, 2012

!!!Sinudeity!!!

Mogwapatholo - What I would have done, is remove the social responsibility clause from private companies, and rather put it in the oversight of government. You could tax the companies more in exchange. But then again, oversight and social responsibility isnt a key-phrase when refering to the government.

Leaving community development in the hands of private companies aint the smartest thing to do. Unless of course you have government oversight, which it seems we dont have.
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Oct 17, 2012

Mgaraji

!!!Sinudeity!!!
Why you calling me a lair. For twisting facts. You definately know of social responsibility agreements these companies promise to undertake. Now mining companies are blamed for apdicating their responsibility, you claim ignorance. According to your apartheid mentality only blacks & ANC deserve to be criticised & blamed.
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Oct 17, 2012

!!!Sinudeity!!!

Mgaraji - And where did I twist facts?

My apartheid mentality? Is this how you try and win arguments? By focussing on my skin colour?
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Oct 17, 2012

!!!Sinudeity!!!

Mgaraji - You think that the companies who dump polluted water into our rivers should also be responsible for the communities? Laughable.
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Oct 17, 2012

Mogwapatholo

@!!!Sinudeity!!!
That's a good point, but remember tax will go directly to the national treasure and will(might) not directly benefit the community around the mining area. one other thing is that this is used as a tool for a healthy relationship between the mining company and the commuity. And the point in not to leave the responsibility of government in the hands of private companies, government is still very much responsible for that but the company is just assisting in those responsiblity(services) which the government might not be able to provide at the time.
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Oct 17, 2012

mesip

No No No !!!!Sinudeity!!!, please read my input/comment correctly.
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Oct 17, 2012

!!!Sinudeity!!!

mesip - You call white folks cowards and losers. That sentence alone refutes your entire argument.

The racism is strong with you guys today.
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Oct 17, 2012

!!!Sinudeity!!!

Mogwapatholo - Yeah, valid point. Perhaps when the funds do go to the national treasurer, it should be noted that funds are specifically earmarked for a specific community.

For me, the mining companies should provide more work. Which can be done in terms of daycare centres etc. When these companies build the schools, do they need to hire teachers as well? Who then provides oversight on the teachers?

Specifically, you are asking a specialised company in mining, to now focus on construction, human resource management etc. Which isnt their mandate.
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Oct 17, 2012

Mogwapatholo

!!!Sinudeity!!!
mesip
Mgaraji

is there anything that i'm missing on the column cause i don't see anywhere were they talk abount black/white, what's with this racial slur.
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Oct 17, 2012

Mogwapatholo

!!!Sinudeity!!!
Specifically, you are asking a specialised company in mining, to now focus on construction, human resource management etc. Which isnt their mandate
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They are not neccesarily focusing on the above or those related to them, what happens for example is that they will build a classrooms/library for the school, construct a tar road or water dams/Reservoir for the community. They provide funding and outsource the project they are not required to provide an ongoing service such as paying for teachers.
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Oct 17, 2012

!!!Sinudeity!!!

Mogwapatholo - Cool, point taken. I have no rebuttal.

Thanks for not calling me an apartheid-mouthpiece.
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Oct 17, 2012

Mgaraji

Mogwapatholo
Thanks for being patient with the apartheid mouthpiece acting as if he did not know the facts of what you are explaining.

Day in day out he calls blacks & ANC with all sort of derogatory names, when fire is return with fire, he chickens.
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Oct 17, 2012

MommaC

What are the laws there for then and why do we have Ministers and MECs ?

Lets be honest, if SARS didn't care if we paid or not, would any of us actually pay taxes? We have laws and rules which are not being monitored and enforced. Yes, the companies concerned should do the right thing but the state OWNS the mineral rights and it is up to them to make damn sure that the laws (that they have made) are being adhered to.

I also find this ridiculous idea that turnover is equal to profit. A realistic and holistic investigation needs to be done, not some half baked glance that results in a halfarsed report
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Oct 17, 2012

!!!Sinudeity!!!

Mgaraji - I dont call black people any names.

As for the ANC government, Im merely stating facts, incompetent and corrupt. And Zuma a sex-fiend and idjit, thief and corrupt scuuumbag. If you see this as a sleight against black folks, then maybe you should pick better leaders?
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Oct 17, 2012

Zee_R

After almost 18 years and again whites are blamed and generalizations made. Would you like it if I generalized and said all black people are uneducated fools because of the likes of Malema and showerhead. Just by the by, how many black politicians have their fingers in the mining industry?
I agree that Mines should have done more to provide adequate infrastructure for housing, schools and clinics, however, where is Government to implement these policies. This problem should have been addressed years ago, instead Government's inability has lead to the situation we have now. I really wish people would stop blaming each other's cultures/colour of skin and start demanding more accountability from Government officials. Government departments spent 4 BILLION rand on parties while the country burns, yet nobody points a finger at them. Go figure
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Oct 17, 2012

Hail

Nothing new here, same applies to the government, its employees cannot afford bonds and does not qualify for RDP. Their employees are living in the squater camp so how will mining company take care of its employees while the government on its own does not practise it? As long as their kids are in the private school and they staying in mansion while majority of people are struggling to make a living it is fine with them.
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Oct 17, 2012

DA-DBN-GUY

Wow so the toilets and accomodation used by the miners are not up to scratch? Blame the filthy miners who are not looking after these facilities.

Mesip

Good luck in trying to be better than the whites! As far as i can see blacks are corrupt and lazy and they are in the majority. Your blind support for the anc is the reason this country is doomed to fail as Zim did. The mess the anc and by default you are creating will take decades to correct but not under the current regime it wont. Screw you calling whites cowards and losers. We are the reason there are mines, we are the reason you have infrastructure and we are the reason this economy is still afloat. Blacks are the real destroyers of this country and the rest of Africa. Blacks wouldnt know integrity if it bit them on their fat @sses
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Oct 17, 2012

WhatTheHack

People of sound mind please like FB page:

facebook.com/JacobZumaIsNotMyPresident
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Oct 17, 2012

MommaC

DA-DBN-GUY

Sweeping statements much?
Sophistry is a poor excuse for a conclusion
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Oct 17, 2012

DA-DBN-GUY

MommaC
DA-DBN-GUY

Sweeping statements much?
Sophistry is a poor excuse for a conclusion

I have the right just as others have to voice my opinion.
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Oct 17, 2012

KeRataBasadi

@ Mgaraji
!!!Sinudeity!!!
One thing black people must learn from white folks: Blindly defend one of your own at all cost, its help unite white community.
_____________________________________________________________________________

Excellently put!
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Oct 17, 2012

MommaC

DA-DBN-GUY

Yes, you do. Problem is, are you willing to stand by those statements and defend them?
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Oct 17, 2012

DA-DBN-GUY

MommaC
DA-DBN-GUY

Yes, you do. Problem is, are you willing to stand by those statements and defend them?

If they are true then yes I will defend. But I will also not stand by while I get called a coward and a loser.
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Oct 17, 2012

MommaC

DA-DBN-GUY

Nobody is asking you not to stand up for yourself. What I was questioning was if using the exact same argument technique was a viable alternative to logic.

"blacks are corrupt and lazy"
Please defend that in the context of our Thuli Madonsela, Vusi Pikoli, Desmond Tutu, Dr Ramphela and Moleleki Mbeki.
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Oct 17, 2012

DA-DBN-GUY

MommaC
DA-DBN-GUY

Nobody is asking you not to stand up for yourself. What I was questioning was if using the exact same argument technique was a viable alternative to logic

Agreed that was below the belt and a tit for tat, a bit childish i admit. Just frustrating.

Madonsela is a lady with GREAT INTEGRITY AND COURAGE. She is doing an amazing job. Tutu for me still blows hot and cold so the jury for me is out with him. Dr Ramphele I would vote for president without hesitation or fear. Moleleki Mbeki is a great mind and a treasure. Would also put my X next to his face any day. He calls it like it is and doesnt choose sides but says it like it is
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Oct 17, 2012

MommaC

DA-DBN-GUY

That is as I thought :)
Just watch out for the sweeping statements. They are a complete injustice to both yourself and others. Sometimes a deep breath and a coffee break are a good idea
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Oct 17, 2012

DA-DBN-GUY

MommaC
DA-DBN-GUY

That is as I thought :)
Just watch out for the sweeping statements. They are a complete injustice to both yourself and others. Sometimes a deep breath and a coffee break are a good idea

Need more than coffee most days! Again thanks for teaching me something new: SOPHISTRY ;-)
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Oct 17, 2012

bytheway1

mesip
We need to be better than them by exercising integrity in everything we do.
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It seems that in general your idea is not been shared by a majority of fellow Africans... just look at all the news: illegal strikes; education; corruption... and the list continues.
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