Johannesburg - Violent community protests in Namakgale near Phalaborwa in Limpopo against a local mining company’s recruitment practices have ended after an agreement was reached between affected parties.
Palabora Copper spokesman Hulisani Nemaxwi said on Friday that an agreement was reached following a lengthy meeting with the local community forum.
“Palabora Copper has reached an agreement with the members of the community forum to end the illegal protest immediately. The company expects to have a full operational staff during the afternoon shift,” said Nemaxwi.
“The communities and the local authorities continue to work together in the various areas removing rubble blocking the roads.”
Operations at Palabora, a subsidiary of Phalaborwa Mining Company, were halted over the weekend after residents from nearby Namakgale protested against the company, accusing it of not hiring local residents.
The protest resulted in the shutdown of businesses and schools as major roads were blocked and vehicles set alight. Buses ferrying workers to the mine were prevented from travelling along the R71 between Namakgale and Phalaborwa.
Nemaxwi said his company had refused to accede to the forum’s demand that at least 16 000 CVs from job seekers, which were collected through various tribal councils, be thrown away and replaced by a 100 CVs to be submitted by the forum.
Palabora said agreeing to this condition would have compromised a legitimate process that involved communities and tribal councils, Nemaxwi said at the time.
ANA