Human Rights Commission visit to Xolobeni, Wild Coast.
Siyathemba Magogotyane
i am a geology student and think that tha wild caost should be mined for the bennefit of the community as it will gain skille and obs to provide for their famalies.
Dear Siyamthemba
Let us look at a bigger picture here. I’m one of the
many local people who are opposed to mining the Wild Coast. Ndikhulele
kulandawo kuthiwa izombiwa, yaye ndiyayiqonda indlala esinayo kwilali
zethu. Kunjalo ndithi mining is not an option. WHY?
The mining in its present format is not going to benefit the people of
Xolobeni. There is the so called XOLCO a BEE company that is
theoretically said to represent the people of XOLOBENI. The people of
XOLOBENi are being offered 26% shares in the venture, for which they are
required to pay about R120 milion. because people of Xolobeni do not have
the money to pay for shares the mining company is offering them a loan.
The lifetime of the mine is 22 years. During the first ten years the BEE
company will not be making any income, because they will be using all
their income to pay back the loan. Then on the 11th year they will start
seeing some benefits. Is this ok by your terms? people will be losing
grazing land and cropland and water on thier land, but re required to pay
for mining of their own land. Is this fair trade? Why should Xolobeni
people pay people to mine their land? The total income to be generated by
the mine is R11 billion. The total local income by the BEE comapany will
be about R500 million. the government will make about R4 billion in tax.
is this benefiting local people.
As for skills you area talking about; the mining process as you might
know as a geologist is highly mechanised and would require educated
people. At Xolobeni only 0.02 people have matric. there is even truck
drivers to deliver the minerals to the smelter. it is therefore very clear
that there will be less than 100 local people employed as security guards
or what? The engineers will be coming from outside. what skills are you
talking about?
It is great that local people are opposed to mining. I would support any
development that would benefit the local people directly.
regards
Sinegugu
Posted on September 10th, 2008
Filed under: SWC Comments
Dear Siyamthemba
Let us look at a bigger picture here. I’m one of the many local people who are opposed to mining the Wild Coast. Ndikhulele kulandawo kuthiwa izombiwa, yaye ndiyayiqonda indlala esinayo kwilali zethu. Kunjalo ndithi mining is not an option. WHY?
The mining in its present format is not going to benefit the people of Xolobeni. There is the so called XOLCO a BEE company that is theoretically said to represent the people of XOLOBENI. The people of XOLOBENi are being offered 26% shares in the venture, for which they are required to pay about R120 milion. because people of Xolobeni do not have the money to pay for shares the mining company is offering them a loan. The lifetime of the mine is 22 years. During the first ten years the BEE company will not be making any income, because they will be using all their income to pay back the loan. Then on the 11th year they will start seeing some benefits. Is this ok by your terms? people will be losing grazing land and cropland and water on thier land, but re required to pay for mining of their own land. Is this fair trade? Why should Xolobeni people pay people to mine their land? The total income to be generated by the mine is R11 billion. The total local income by the BEE comapany will
be about R500 million. the government will make about R4 billion in tax. is this benefiting local people.
As for skills you area talking about; the mining process as you might know as a geologist is highly mechanised and would require educated people. At Xolobeni only 0.02 people have matric. there is even truck drivers to deliver the minerals to the smelter. it is therefore very clear that there will be less than 100 local people employed as security guards or what? The engineers will be coming from outside. what skills are you talking about?
It is great that local people are opposed to mining. I would support any development that would benefit the local people directly.
regards
Sinegugu
i feel so scared to see the abuse of the beautiful land of Pondoland..
anyone who agrees with this mining thing could they make means to check johannesburg old mines how they look like… for sure with out going to thedepth of the enviromental issues and economical statements.. i feel the small towns are being taken fora ride because they know that there is poverty rulling..
please those who have a say and have grounds to make powerful statement please advise the OR tambo district to think of other means of planting wealth in the area.
i have seen about 10 proposals that have no impact on the Enviroment but have a huge potential of boosting economical growth.. but they have not been implemented if why i dnt know.
Mampondo akuthi ningakhe nivume isizwe sizonidlwengulela umhlaba wobawomkhule.. FARMING WAS AND STILL IS AND STILL WILL ALWAYS BE…. but the govement needs to invest in it more.