THE dramatic pull-out from mining at Xolobeni announced by controversial Australian miner Mineral Commodities (MRC) raised a cheer from activists around the world.
However, they warned that a bid to divest shares into a new BEE entity was a clear indication that MRC had not given up.
Yesterday, an attempt by the government to promote mining and restore calm to Xolobeni drew a roar of resentment from residents.
Details of the new empowerment figure, Mzwandile Maxwell Maraqana, a chief whose company, Keysha Investments 178, has been offered MRC’s 56% share in the MRC’s Xolobeni mining financial vehicle, TEM, were not immediately available.
Monday’s shock announcement by MRC to the Australian stock exchange follows scenes of violence and murder in Xolobeni, with MRC’s BEE company, Xolco, accused of attacking opponents of mining, as well as two journalists, with sticks, pangas and guns, and MRC accused of bankrolling their operations.
The conflict peaked with the assassination of Amadiba Crisis Committee (ACC) chairman Sikhosiphi “Bazooka” Rhadebe, 51, at his home near Mzamba on March 22.
The Hawks have made no arrests nor issued any public statements on case progress and attorneys representing the committee have questioned why the stolen car used by the killers was given back to its owners two days later.
Yesterday, a senior government delegation, led by Police Deputy Minister Maggie Sotyu and Mineral Resources Deputy Minister Godfrey Oliphant, held an emotional meeting with 1600 residents at Xolobeni.
The government was there to respond to allegations of major government complicity in bullying thousands of residents into allowing mining to happen on the mineral-rich dunes on the Wild Coast.
Late yesterday, economist Dick Vossland and human rights attorney Richard Spoor, speaking as they left the meeting, said there was a roar of dissent as AmaMpondo King Zanozuko Tyelovuyo Sigcau stood up and claimed residents “wanted” mining.
“People were waving chairs. They had to call Nonhle Mbuthuma to calm them down.”
Spoor said: “It was clear. The overwhelming majority of people are strongly opposed to mining in Xolobeni.”
The ACC has gathered international support for its no-mining campaign, and has also built a national support network of lawyers, including the Legal Resources Centre, environmental activists, social workers, economists and even filmmakers.
In its statement released yesterday, MRC said vaguely that “ongoing violence and threats to peace” meant any viability of mining “should be managed by stakeholders and organisations exclusively owned by South African people”.
MRC stated that selling to Keysha would remove “focus” on it, but the move was in “no way” meant to divert from MRC’s “commitment to its mining interests in SA”, especially at Tormin on the West Coast.
MRC said details of the deal would only emerge “upon signing of definitive sale agreements”.
A Windeed search of Maraqana’s business interests reveals he has addresses in Lusikisiki, Mthatha and Pretoria and that he is a director of more than 20 companies, including Mvubu Quarries, Rumdel Construction, Ndamara Service Station, MRC’s Transworld Energy and Minerals (TEM) and Xolobeni Empowerment Company (Xolco).
While activists have accused pro-mining factions of sabotaging tourism near Xolobeni on the Wild Coast, Maraqana is listed as having resigned as a director of Wilderness Safari Mkambati, Children in the Wilderness-Mkambati and Incopho Wild Coast Development Projects at the same time as he signed up with Xolco.
In a statement released by Mbuthuma, the ACC demanded to know “who is truly behind the Xolobeni project”.
“MRC speaks about the violence blocking them. We, the land-rights holders, have peacefully denied MRC and its TEM company access to our land for mining. Who has responded with violence? Who has been shooting at homesteads? Who has repeatedly used bush knifes and knobkerries against locals and even against journalists?
“Who will provide MRC hundreds of millions of rand to buy its destructive project? Why is MRC not simply withdrawing and closing down Xolco, Keysha and TEM?” the group asked.
“We want to develop our agriculture and tourism. Your mining is not development. It is destruction of our land. It is killings and violence, no matter if it is black or white.” — mikel@dispatch.co.za
Mine firm ‘pulls out’ of Xolobeni
However, they warned that a bid to divest shares into a new BEE entity was a clear indication that MRC had not given up.
Yesterday, an attempt by the government to promote mining and restore calm to Xolobeni drew a roar of resentment from residents.
Details of the new empowerment figure, Mzwandile Maxwell Maraqana, a chief whose company, Keysha Investments 178, has been offered MRC’s 56% share in the MRC’s Xolobeni mining financial vehicle, TEM, were not immediately available.
Monday’s shock announcement by MRC to the Australian stock exchange follows scenes of violence and murder in Xolobeni, with MRC’s BEE company, Xolco, accused of attacking opponents of mining, as well as two journalists, with sticks, pangas and guns, and MRC accused of bankrolling their operations.
The conflict peaked with the assassination of Amadiba Crisis Committee (ACC) chairman Sikhosiphi “Bazooka” Rhadebe, 51, at his home near Mzamba on March 22.
The Hawks have made no arrests nor issued any public statements on case progress and attorneys representing the committee have questioned why the stolen car used by the killers was given back to its owners two days later.
Yesterday, a senior government delegation, led by Police Deputy Minister Maggie Sotyu and Mineral Resources Deputy Minister Godfrey Oliphant, held an emotional meeting with 1600 residents at Xolobeni.
The government was there to respond to allegations of major government complicity in bullying thousands of residents into allowing mining to happen on the mineral-rich dunes on the Wild Coast.
Late yesterday, economist Dick Vossland and human rights attorney Richard Spoor, speaking as they left the meeting, said there was a roar of dissent as AmaMpondo King Zanozuko Tyelovuyo Sigcau stood up and claimed residents “wanted” mining.
“People were waving chairs. They had to call Nonhle Mbuthuma to calm them down.”
Spoor said: “It was clear. The overwhelming majority of people are strongly opposed to mining in Xolobeni.”
The ACC has gathered international support for its no-mining campaign, and has also built a national support network of lawyers, including the Legal Resources Centre, environmental activists, social workers, economists and even filmmakers.
In its statement released yesterday, MRC said vaguely that “ongoing violence and threats to peace” meant any viability of mining “should be managed by stakeholders and organisations exclusively owned by South African people”.
MRC stated that selling to Keysha would remove “focus” on it, but the move was in “no way” meant to divert from MRC’s “commitment to its mining interests in SA”, especially at Tormin on the West Coast.
MRC said details of the deal would only emerge “upon signing of definitive sale agreements”.
A Windeed search of Maraqana’s business interests reveals he has addresses in Lusikisiki, Mthatha and Pretoria and that he is a director of more than 20 companies, including Mvubu Quarries, Rumdel Construction, Ndamara Service Station, MRC’s Transworld Energy and Minerals (TEM) and Xolobeni Empowerment Company (Xolco).
While activists have accused pro-mining factions of sabotaging tourism near Xolobeni on the Wild Coast, Maraqana is listed as having resigned as a director of Wilderness Safari Mkambati, Children in the Wilderness-Mkambati and Incopho Wild Coast Development Projects at the same time as he signed up with Xolco.
In a statement released by Mbuthuma, the ACC demanded to know “who is truly behind the Xolobeni project”.
“MRC speaks about the violence blocking them. We, the land-rights holders, have peacefully denied MRC and its TEM company access to our land for mining. Who has responded with violence? Who has been shooting at homesteads? Who has repeatedly used bush knifes and knobkerries against locals and even against journalists?
“Who will provide MRC hundreds of millions of rand to buy its destructive project? Why is MRC not simply withdrawing and closing down Xolco, Keysha and TEM?” the group asked.
“We want to develop our agriculture and tourism. Your mining is not development. It is destruction of our land. It is killings and violence, no matter if it is black or white.” — mikel@dispatch.co.za
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