Premier Mabuza urges Mpumalanga traditional leaders to prioritise development
12 July 2013
Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza has urged the
traditional leaders in the province to prioritise development should they
acquire the mining rights instead of benefiting themselves only.
Yesterday [Thursday, 11 July 2013], the traditional
leaders from Mpumalanga met with Premier Mabuza and Mineral Resources
Minister Suzan Shabangu in Middelburg following their plea early this year
during a mining lekgotla to own the mining rights in the areas of their
jurisdiction .
Chairing the meeting, Premier Mabuza warned the
traditional leaders not to beg for the mining rights for personal gains, but
for the benefit of the communities at large. He appealed to them to share
information about the proposed acquisition of the mining rights as they now
have a structured communication with Minister Shabangu through his Office.
“Our traditional leaders should grab this opportunity with both hands, but should have it at the back of their minds that this is not about them as individuals, but communities who need to benefit and live a better life from their own natural resources.
“Our province should indeed grow and the traditional leaders should also assist government in ensuring that citizens live a better life. Amakhosi are not a pressure group, therefore they should stop complaining but should share information amongst themselves.
“Surely this will not happen overnight as we are moving one step at a time. Our traditional leaders need to appreciate that the people out there will definitely work with them and for them. Everybody sees money in mining and they tend to forget the people,” said Mabuza.
Mabuza was formalising a relationship between the
traditional leaders [amakhosi] and the Minister following their concerns
about their role with regards to mining activities which are undertaken in
their areas of jurisdiction.
Amakhosi recently complained to the Premier that they
do not have information about the mineral deposits available in their areas
and such limited their ability to be proactive in terms of taking advantage
of opportunities presented by the mining sector.
Speaking at meeting on behalf of the Mpumalanga House
of Traditional Leaders, Chief Bheki Mnisi explained that such lack of
information disadvantaged them from applying for mining rights on behalf of
their communities and in further attracting investment to their
jurisdiction.
“In the event where certain companies have been given rights to conduct exploration activities in our areas or starting mining operations, by and large, we are not consulted properly as leaders of our communities, right at the beginning of the processes.
“We feel that as traditional leaders from Mpumalanga, our inputs and views do not matter at all. We are basically excluded from the decision making processes altogether. Our voice is also minimal or absent at all when it comes to social labour plans agreements, let alone the projects that are selected,” said Chief Mnisi.
He added that the partnership models that were
currently in place did not consider the traditional leaders as one of the
key beneficiaries of any mining activities. He said traditional leaders had
a crucial role to play in all the aspects that involve mining activities in
their areas of jurisdiction.
“We want to see ourselves being part of leading the transformation agenda in the mining industry and also ensuring that our communities benefit from the natural resources that are beneath our lands,” concluded Mnisi.
Meanwhile, Mineral Resources Minister Shabangu has set
up a technical team which will comprise of representatives from her
ministry, Office of the Premier, provincial Department of Cooperative
Governance and Traditional Affairs, House of Traditional Leader and
municipalities to identify the mining companies conducting the mining
activities in the jurisdiction of the traditional leaders to take the
process forward.
The Minister further encouraged the traditional
leaders to be vigilant as many people who applied for mining licences
by-passed them in the consultation processes.
“I am happy that we are meeting with you today, we have always been concerned about your role as traditional leaders in the mining sector. You have neglected this space for a very long time; some people saw a vacuum and occupied your space.
“With this relationship, from now on, my department will no longer approve mining licenses without the consent of the traditional leaders in this province. We also want the traditional leaders to guide development in their areas.
“The Royal Bafokeng model is doable and is highly possible. The traditional leaders in Mpumalanga should know that mining is not an easy industry; it is a very long term project. This therefore calls for proper planning in terms of skills development for the youth,” she said.
She explained that the technical team would provide guidance on how to assist the traditional leaders on partnering with prospective mining companies and those that are already conducting mining activities in their areas of jurisdiction.
Issued by Zibonele Mncwango
Spokesperson: Mpumalanga Premier
Mpumalanga Provincial Government
Tel: (013) 766 – 2453
Mobile: 079 491 0163
E-mail:
zmncwango@mpg.gov.za
