The Mourning of Human Rights Day in Bafokeng

The Bafokeng Land Buyers’ Association hosted a delegation of 40 South Americans as they mourned Human Rights Day here in Rustenburg. Kenya, Chile, Colombia and other countries, including Canada, were represented.

The visit sought to share information and experiences, and celebrate Human Rights day with communities endangered by extractive industries. It so happened that the visit, termed the Learning Route, coincided with the meeting of African Union’s Working Group/Commission on Communities faced with Extractive Industries which took place on Thursday 22^nd March in Pretoria.

 Henk Smith, Wilmien Wicomb and Sayi Nindi of the Legal Resources Centre presented the legal challenges that the rural mine-hosting communities are facing. They explained the evolution of the South African legal framework relative to customary law, its inadequacies from its colonial predecessors to the current Constitutional dispensation.

Dr Gavin Capps, an expert on tribal landed property, explained the convolution of the mining complex, the State and the tribal system as it impacted on the Bafokeng communities since the difacane. To guarantee and safeguard foreign ownership and control of land and the platinum mineral reserves in the Bushveld Complex, the two sectors are strategically centralized at the National offices.

 ‘In fact all legislation having a bearing on mining and land ownership are centralized at National offices. This effectively dispossesses communities and Municipalities of all control over their natural and heritage resources, and places such control and ownership into, and to the benefit of the multinational conglomerates and their imperialist nations’, added Monty Huma .

The visitors arrived in Rustenburg to a warm welcome by members of the Bafokeng communities. Phillemon Khunou of Tsitsing, Gash Nape of Thekwana, Mr Makhubalo of the Setuke Family, Buti Mekgwe of Baphiring baLuka, all painted a picture of the hardships they have endured overtime against the colonial/apartheid regimes, who established, promoted and protected the Bafokeng chieftaincy’s illegitimate rule over their villages. They alluded to their loss of land to the boers and the Bafokeng chief Mokgatle from 1869 to 1908.

Following the footsteps of the State’s charade of dispossession, the platinum mining companies have been worse, sophisticated, rampant and brutal.

Michael Mmope, Thulare Mabule and Chris Senne of Chaneng village described how Anglo Platinum and the Bafokeng chief, through their Royal Bafokeng Platinum mine treated the Chaneng land owners. Those whose livelihoods depended on the ploughing and grazing fields had to make way, without compensation, for the mine’s Styldrift project. Migrant mine labour has overcrowded  social amenities in clinics and schools. Crime has escalated and the mines continue to blast cracks in the local building structures.

‘We are faced with the same problems in Chile and Colombia. South African mining companies are starting new projects in our areas and have shown absolutely no respect for our rights’, said the PROCASUR delegates, and representatives Maria Araya and Pilar Alberada.

Land Buyers’ Association, Chaneng Community, Setuke Family, Dr Gavin Capps and the Legal Resources Center were all awarded certificates of appreciation and recognition. In presenting the certificates, the Deputy President of Ford Foundation appreciated the resilience of the poor rural dwellers, and pledged to give support to the communities.

Chris, Jan, March, Tsholofelo, and Phistus  led the slogan song ‘siyaya’ , as they resigned their Human Rights day.

Royal Bafokeng Platinum Blast Chaneng Residential Houses Open

-'Tshasa' March Motene

 In the early hours of Wednesday 07/03/2012 a terrifying blast from Royal Bafokeng Platinum mine operations woke most of the Chaneng residents up. Unfortunately, one community member of Ramogotsi Section woke up to find the outer wall of his house collapsed due to the horrific blast.

The traumatized owner of the house is in distress as he does not know where he will get the money to fix his house and his household properties open to the public, and probably thieves. The poor father has even placed a zinc washing bath to fill the gap left by the collapsed wall.

The community of Chaneng has complained several times in the community meetings about this blasting caused by the Royal Bafokeng Platinum mine, whose leader is the Bafokeng chief. Leaders of Chaneng youth have tried engaging the mines and the chief about this blasting that leads to cracking of the houses. Their complaints fell on deaf ears. Now that a wall has collapsed due to this blasting, who should take the responsibility to fix the fallen wall? Is the Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, or the Human Rights Commission not interested in such abuses against the poor community of Chaneng?

‘O nyala leng?’ questions as Luka community is once more tricked and tamed with job promises

A number of people had raised concerns about Luka 13 meeting Leruo Molotlegi, chief of the Royal Bafokeng Nation on Tuesday the 13^th March 2012. People felt that the Luka 13 were being silenced with easy promises before the annual Dumela Phokeng meeting that was held at Thethe High School this past Sunday 18-03-2012. It is reported that an agreement had been reached in the Tuesday meeting for Leruo to secure a number of jobs for the Luka youth with the local Impala Platinum mine.

‘It is this master stroke that paved an easy way out for Leruo at the Dumela Phokeng meeting. As if nothing happened in Luka village when the 13 were arrested and detained for a week, Leruo came out scot free at the Dumela Phokeng meeting with frivolous questions like “o nyala leng?” (when are you getting married?)’, complained one Luka community elder.

In the meantime the same Luka 13 will face the Magistrate on the 11 April 2012 for public violence caused mainly by the past indifference Leruo had shown against the general community of Luka.  

Jubilation as Luka 13 is released

Luka 13 got released today on free bail with a warning that, they will not engage in illegal gatherings and activities leading to damaging of property and also that, they should not disturb the peace in the community. They will appear again on the 11^th of April 2012. The community came in numbers to show support and solidarity with their young members who have been incacerated since the 1st  March 2012 for blocking the entrance to Luka with burning tyres. Their charge was public violence.

‘Kgosi Leruo Molotlegi o tshwarisitse bana ba Luka’

The 13 arrested appeared briefly on Friday 02 March 2012. They were remanded back in custody to reappear again on the 07^th March for bail application. Bail is estimated at R1000 a person. ‘Kgosi’s actions instigated the arrests’.

‘E rile rele ko logato ka mantaga wa 27 Tlhakole 2012 reile go batla dikarabo tsa dikopo tsa rona tsa ngwaga oo fetileng ka Sedimonthole, Magosi Tumagole le Kenny Mokate ba re Kgosi a ka se re bone. Ba bua gore ebile bona gaba dire ka tsa ko mmaeneng’, go anela motṥha wa ko Luka ka khutsafalo, mo kopanaong e eneng e rulagantswe go atlhatlha go tshwariwa ga bana ba Luka ke masecurity le mapodisa a Phokeng ka Labone wa 01 Mopitlwe.

‘Ka labobedi raya ko Civic Centre go ya go batla goitse gore Bafokeng ba dira eng gore bana ba Luka ba thapiwa ke meepo. Kenny Mokate a baya mogala mo loudspikareng gore reikutlwele karabo ya Impala. Mmề wa ko Impala o buile straight are Impala eka se hiri bana ba ko Luka. Ka Labone bana ba dirile se ba se dirileng, ba paraga matseno a Luka’.

‘Ge Kgosi a kabe a direla morafe, bana ba kabo ba sa gwanta batshariwa. Mme ebile baabedi ba bona ba pregnente’. Ba ba tshwerweng ba tlhageletse fa pele ga Magistrata ka labotlhano 02 Tlhakole mme kgetse ya bona ya busetswa morago. Bana ba boetse tṥhankaneng mme ba tla tlhagelele gape ka laboraro wa beke e e latelang go tla go kopa beili.

Baagi ba ne ba tṥhakgeletse ketedipele ee bokowa ya motse. ‘Ge ketedipele e e itshwere yaana, ga gona ka moo e ka fenyang meepo. Moepo wa Impala ge o kare o go bona o kare o botlhalenyana, ya go tsaya e go ntsha mo baaging, that’s why re tlhola re sena ketedipele e e nonofileng. Mmaene wa re tella. O tlabe wa tsamaya re sa tshwara sepe’.

Morago ga go badiwa ga di memorandum tsa motes tsa May 2003 le January 2010 tse di amogetsweng ke meepo, baagi ba ne ba rulaganya go kolekiwa ga madi a beili ya ba ba tshwereng e e kana ka R13000.00. Ba bangwe ba baagi ba ntshitse di R100 go thusa ka beili. Go tlhopilwe komiti ya beili.

Impala riots spills over to nearby Bafokeng Luka Village, Rustenburg

The Anti Bafokeng Repression Campaign in Luka village near Phokeng Rustenburg has joined the retrenched Impala workers in a violent march against Impala Platinum mines and the Royal Bafokeng nation. A huge contingent of police was deployed this morning around five to dispel an angry crowd which had blockaded the railway line and the entrance to Luka village with stones and burning tyres.

Both the Executive Mayor of Rustenburg Local Municipality and the Bafokeng chief have recently refused permission for Bafokeng communities to stage march demonstrations.

Last week during the retrenchments riots by Impala mine workers, Impala and Bafokeng security companies where seen firing automatic weapons at the angry crowds. Twelve community members were this morning arrested and are detained at the Phokeng Police Station.

“We are tired of the Bafokeng Chief. One woman resident in Luka village was stabbed by angry mine workers on her way to work. We tried talking to Bafokeng chief on Monday about the impact of Impala mines on Luka community. The chief refused to talk to us and the Bafokeng security chased us away”, said Anti-Bafokeng Repression Campaign coordinator Matlantla Mekgwe as he was whisked away in the back of a police van.

Contact Phistus Mekgoe of Anti-Bafokeng Repression Campaign at 071 962 7696 for further information.