Members of Thembisile Hani Concerned People’s Group marched to Palesa coal mine on Thursday.
THE Thembisile Hani Concerned People’s Group is worried about the high unemployment rate in their area.On Thursday, members of the group marched to the local Palesa coal mine in KwaMhlanga to deliver a memorandum.
Solly Petha, a spokesman for the group, claimed the mine only hired outsiders instead of local people
“We’re tired of the way locals are being treated by the mine.
“When the mine started operating some few years ago, we hoped it would curb the high unemployment rate in the area.
“But what we have seen since then that there is nepotism. We want the mine to be transparent when it hires people,” said Solly.
“We want the mine to make a significant contribution to the community.”
Victor Masombuka (36) lives on a farm and the mine is less than a kilometre from his home.
“We’re struggling at home and only survive on the kids’ grant,” said Victor.
“The mine does not want to hire us. It’s time for management to consider us for jobs.”
Philip van Vuuren, a manager at the mine, said they would look at the residents’ demands but won’t make any promises.
“We need time to investigate some of the residents’ complaints,” he said.
“We’ll do our best where we can, and will try to meet each other halfway. We take the residents’ demands seriously.
“We will sit with the mine management and discuss all the issues before we give the residents feedback in seven days’ time.”
