THERE will be mixed feelings about the closure of the mine partly owned by flamboyant showman Kenny Kunene, aka the Sushi King.
Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu revoked the mining licence of the embattled Central Rand Gold (CRG) following its failure to comply with its contractual obligations regarding its mining works programme and social labour plans.
As reported in yesterday's Sowetan, CRG's breaches include:
- Workers not receiving portable skills training prior to retrenchment (80 have already been retrenched and 161 more jobs were on the line);
- Community members in the mine's vicinity complaining that promised benefits from the mine's proceeds were not forthcoming;
- Failure to achieve real empowerment targets; and
- The mine's failure to contribute to socioeconomic development in the community in which it operated.
It would be myopic to suggest - as was done by some after the news was published yesterday - that the mine was shut because of Kunene's overt support of rabble-rousing ANCYL president Julius Malema. Or worse, to applaud the fact that the braggart and brash former convict-turned-tycoon is getting his comeuppance.
All that is, at best, peripheral humbug that has nothing to do with the real issue, which is that a mining company - if we are to believe the minister - failed dismally to meet the terms of its contract.
Mining has for years been one of the pillars of the South African economy. It is a huge employer and is, concomitantly, dangerous. Last year 128 people died in mining accidents in South Africa. That was a tremendous (24 percent) improvement on the previous year - but nevertheless a huge loss of life.
It is ironic that while gold, diamonds and platinum are, worldwide, yardsticks of wealth and opulence, those at the coalface of mining the minerals are generally on the rock-bottom rung when the benefits are doled out.
The government, then, has an obligation to ensure that those who benefit from the wealth of these mines abide by the letter of the law by making their operations safe for the miners and surrounding communities, and also to ensure that every undertaking made is honoured.
The CEO of the mine, Johan du Toit, has indicated that they will be appealing the minister's ruling. We can only hope that the outcome of the appeal will not only benefit the mine's high and mighty, but all involved and affected.
For the good of everyone
THERE will be mixed feelings about the closure of the mine partly owned by flamboyant showman Kenny Kunene, aka the Sushi King.
Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu revoked the mining licence of the embattled Central Rand Gold (CRG) following its failure to comply with its contractual obligations regarding its mining works programme and social labour plans.
As reported in yesterday's Sowetan, CRG's breaches include:
- Workers not receiving portable skills training prior to retrenchment (80 have already been retrenched and 161 more jobs were on the line);
- Community members in the mine's vicinity complaining that promised benefits from the mine's proceeds were not forthcoming;
- Failure to achieve real empowerment targets; and
- The mine's failure to contribute to socioeconomic development in the community in which it operated.
It would be myopic to suggest - as was done by some after the news was published yesterday - that the mine was shut because of Kunene's overt support of rabble-rousing ANCYL president Julius Malema. Or worse, to applaud the fact that the braggart and brash former convict-turned-tycoon is getting his comeuppance.
All that is, at best, peripheral humbug that has nothing to do with the real issue, which is that a mining company - if we are to believe the minister - failed dismally to meet the terms of its contract.
Mining has for years been one of the pillars of the South African economy. It is a huge employer and is, concomitantly, dangerous. Last year 128 people died in mining accidents in South Africa. That was a tremendous (24 percent) improvement on the previous year - but nevertheless a huge loss of life.
It is ironic that while gold, diamonds and platinum are, worldwide, yardsticks of wealth and opulence, those at the coalface of mining the minerals are generally on the rock-bottom rung when the benefits are doled out.
The government, then, has an obligation to ensure that those who benefit from the wealth of these mines abide by the letter of the law by making their operations safe for the miners and surrounding communities, and also to ensure that every undertaking made is honoured.
The CEO of the mine, Johan du Toit, has indicated that they will be appealing the minister's ruling. We can only hope that the outcome of the appeal will not only benefit the mine's high and mighty, but all involved and affected.
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