Mines profit, municipalities fail and police repress legitimate protest in Emahlahleni! Press release, 27 January 2015 In Emahlahleni and surrounding towns (such as Ogies, Kriel and Moutse), poor mining-affected communities are afflicted by high levels of unemployment, no housing and services, and endure many of the devastating environmental impacts and social ills that come with the mining industry. In short, they carry the costs and hardships that come with mining, but enjoy none of the wealth and benefits. The air they breathe is polluted from the coal dust and acid rain leaving members of the community, especially children, ill with respiratory health problems. The toxic tailings dams are not secured and children swim in them, and the poisonous waste seeps into rivers and underground water supplies which local communities and farmers use. Sinkholes are a common feature and residents face the ever-present danger of living above mounds of burning coal. It is women who carry the greatest burden as they must search for safe water supplies, put food on the table, and take care of the ill with few if any public services to support them. Many of the informal settlements that surround the mines were borne out of high levels of in-migration as people came in search of jobs and a new life. This dream has been shattered as the mines have failed to create work, and the local municipality has failed to better the life of local citizens in these settlements. These communities have endured these harsh living conditions for many decades and now proclaim “enough is enough! Time for action!” On 26 January, local organisations in the settlements of Coronation, MNS, Klaarnet and in other towns surrounding Emahlahleni took to the streets in the start of a rolling campaign to expose the poor living conditions and problems confronted by residents, and to demand action from the mines and Emahlahleni municipality. The police were informed about the actions planned, and started arresting the main leaders in each locality in the early hours of that morning in an effort to break the protest. Fed up local communities continued to protest, picket and barricade streets to signal their anger and dissatisfaction to the authorities and the mines. The police responded brutally, firing rubber bullets and teargas at protesters, and arresting more local leaders, including key women activists from a national structure of women affected by mining. Later in the day, the Emahlahleni municipality (which was placed under administration by the Mpumalanga Cabinet in April 2013 and has since then still failed to get its books in order) finally responded, indicating that it was prepared to meet leaders from the different settlements to hear their grievances and come to an agreement about the needed action. After delays and indications that the Administrator would not be available to meet the delegation, a peaceful protest started outside the Municipality. The police responding harshly, firing rubber bullets and arresting protesters. This repressive action and the failure of the municipality to intervene to re-establish the basis for open negotiations, led to the breakdown of talks yesterday. As the protesters dispersed, some youth took advantage of the chaos to loot shops run by immigrant Pakistanis. The organisers express their deep regret at this development, which does not in any way represent the position of the organisations leading the protests. In local meetings planned for today, these zenophobic attacks will be raised and organisations will clearly distance themselves from such actions. Local organisations vow to continue their protests over the coming days and months until the mines and the municipality do what is needed – listen to local citizens, address municipal corruption and take action to address the deplorable and unsafe living conditions of poor communities in Emahlahleni. Communities have had enough!! For more information contact: Matthews Hlabane, Southern African Green Revolutionary Council (082 707 9860) Mduduzi Mdokane (072 905 0616)
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 13:19:52 +0000
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