Parliament, Tuesday, 25 February 2025 – Mining companies operating in Mpumalanga’s Nkangala region have been accused by local communities and traditional leaders of failing to comply with their Social Labour Plans (SLPs).
The community members and local traditional leaders told the Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Petroleum Resources how these big mining companies were failing to implement their own SLPs for the communities to benefit from the mining profits.
SLPs are an important requirement by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources when considering applications for mining rights, and through these initiatives mining companies support community development such as building and upgrading community infrastructure, housing, economic empowerment and skills development. An SLP becomes a binding legal document once mining rights have been awarded.
During a meeting yesterday, as part of the committee’s oversight activities this week in Emalahleni, the community and traditional leaders accused the companies of committing to the SLPs just to acquire mining rights but with no actual intention of implementing the agreements when they started making profits.
Committee Chairperson Mr Mikateko Mahlaule said it was unacceptable for companies to make promises and commitments just to acquire the mining rights but fail to live to their promises.
“We are determined to ensure SLPs are implanted, we want accountability from the companies, it is law, and they must do what they promised to do in terms of the law”, said the Chairperson.
The committee also conducted oversight to Optimum Coal Mine, which is now Liberty Coal following a business rescue process.
The department told the committee about the company’s non-compliance with certain provisions and environmental laws. The mine is operating a washing plant without a pollution control dam, an important regulatory requirement.
Management told the committee that they were taking the necessary steps to be fully compliant with all the laws as part of the ongoing rehabilitation and rebuilding of the mine.
The committee gave the company two weeks to submit a comprehensive plan on how they were going to comply with all the regulatory requirements as well as SLPs.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON MINERAL AND PETROLEUM RESOURCES, MR MIKATEKO MAHLAULE.
For media enquiries or interviews with the committee Chairperson, please contact:
Name: Sakhile Mokoena
Cell: 081 705 2130
E-mail: smokoena@parliament.gov.za
Arrange a tour