Bapong ‘under control’

Published Aug 26, 2011

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The situation in Bapong was “tense but under control” on Friday, five days after community protests started, said North West police.

“The situation is tense because… (on Thursday) protesters banged down a Somali tuckshop,” said Sergeant Kelebogile Moiloa.

No one had been arrested for the damage yet, she said.

The protests started on Sunday when residents blockaded the road between Sun City and Pretoria with burning tyres.

Bapong residents have accused Lonmin mine of neglecting its social responsibility to develop the area.

They have demanded that the platinum mining company employ 2 500 locals and offer bursaries to school children.

Protesters damaged vehicles belonging to the police, the mine and civilians during the week. A number of foreign-owned businesses were also looted.

The Sowetan reported that the Bapo-ba-Mogale tribal authorities threatened that they would not renew a lease agreement with the mine – which expires at the end of the month – if their demands were not met by Friday.

Lonmin CEO Ian Farmer told the newspaper that the company spent R40 million a year on community development projects.

“We split the money into (education and health services), but greater emphasis is on education because we believe educating more people will ultimately deal with issues such as high unemployment and poverty,” he said. – Sapa

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