Undertaker takes on mining giant

File picture: Bullit Marquez

File picture: Bullit Marquez

Published Dec 2, 2013

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A Limpopo funeral undertaker is on the warpath, taking on mining giant Anglo American Platinum over alleged outstanding payments totalling R5.4 million.

David Mafolo, managing director of Tsepo Funeral Undertaker (TFU), claims the world’s leading platinum producer has withheld part of his payment for the grave relocation project he did for them in the Motlhotlo area outside Mokopane.

But Angloplat has denied Mafolo’s figures.

Instead the company argues that the total amount owing to Mafolo was about R60 000.

The monetary dispute relates to the grave relocation project during the resettlement of residents of the Ga-Puka and Ga-Sekhaolelo villages outside Mokopane from 2006.

The villagers and the graves were moved to make way for the expansion of Mogalakwena mine, which is operated by RPM Mogalakwena Section, a wholly owned subsidiary of Angloplat.

“Anglo American Platinum confirms that it entered into an agreement with Tsepo Funeral Undertaker to undertake grave relocation services on its behalf,” said company spokeswoman Mpumi Sithole.

“Corrected invoices for the R47 904.45 (including VAT) were submitted on November 18, 2013. Payment is expected by December 2, 2013,” said Sithole.

She added: “Payment for the outstanding R12 136.86 (including VAT) will be made as soon as the outstanding work on four gravestones has been completed. As at May 2013, a cumulative total of R11 million (including VAT) had been paid to TFU.”

But Mafolo insists Angloplat still owes him R5.4 million.

He said the company contracted him in 2005 to exhume and rebury the remains in a newly identified area.

“Initially the number of graves was 2 196 but there was an addition of 475 more graves,” said Mafolo.

According to Angloplat’s figures, 435 additional graves were exhumed, not 475.

 

Mafolo said the alleged outstanding payments date back to work he did in 2009.

He said he had written many letters and made countless phone calls to the company.

“Always they try to dispute the amount. When I show them my documents, they try to come up with different tricks,” said Mafolo.

The Star has seen e-mail correspondence dated April 23 this year between Mafolo and Jaco Pieters, Angloplat’s project manager. In the e-mail, Mafolo expressed frustration with Pieters.

He wrote to Pieters: “On my recent three correspondences… you never responded, other than just picking one item as if the rest (were already) dealt with.”

Pieters could not be reached for comment.

Sithole said Angloplat had been communicating with Mafolo. “Anglo American Platinum has been continually engaging with Mr Mafolo both interpersonally and in writing and we have advised him of the status of the invoices.” - The Star

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