29 Nov 2016

Francistown councillors have told the Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Advocate Sadique Kebonang that they want the same treatment that is accorded to former BCL employees and Selibe Phikwe town extended to Francistown.
Councillors were speaking during a full council meeting addressed by Advocate Kebonang, Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development, Mr Nonofo Molefhi and the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Mr Vincent Seretse on Friday concerning the closure of BCL mine.
Satellite South ward councillor, Mr Godisang Radisigo said it seemed all efforts towards the economic recovery were only done in Selibe Phikwe yet Francistown also had employees of Tati Nickel Mining Company (TNMC) who were affected by the closure.
He said the government should have an economic recovery programme for Francistown because the city through the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) was zoned as a mining area.
Councillor Radisigo further said mine union leadership in Francistown were not consulted and updated as those in Selibe Phikwe and that this left them with no answers to their membership.
He said making TNMC a subsidiary of BCL was a mistake by the government because it was evident that the decision brought problems for TNMC, which its feasibility study indicated had 10 more years of existence.
Councillor Radisigo said while the government intended to assist BCL employees it would be unfair to the rest of the nation if their children were paid for at English medium schools.
Nominated councillor Mr Andy Boatile, who concurred with councillor Radisigo on the same treatment, decried that the city leadership has not been r

eceiving any information on the effect of the mine closure and that the ministers only addressed them following their request.
Central Ward councillor, Mr Ephraim Maiketso said it was not clear how the economy revitalization programme would benefit ex-employees of BCL.
Ikageleng Ward councillor, Ms Sennye Matsoo decried that the minister’s delay to address the city councillors on the closure of the mine has resulted in them failing to play a role in assisting to counsel TNMC employees as they were in the dark about what was happening.
Kanana Ward councillor, Mr Cornelius Gopolang said the government should desist from running the mines but rather leave that to the private sector.

Ipopeng Ward councillor, Ms Jenamiso Mojaki pleaded with the ministers to address the over 700 employees of TNMC just as they continue to do with BCL mines.

Nominated councillor Mr Peter Ngoma raised concern that Francistown councillors were looked down upon because they were never consulted and only learnt about the closure from the media.

He said Francistown was the second city and that the city leadership should always be kept abreast with issues of national interest by the relevant authorities.

Earlier Advocate Kebonang apologised to the councillors for failing to honour their invitation on Tuesday and concurred that indeed TNMC employees were equally affected as the BCL employees.

He also informed councillors about the events that led to the liquidation of the mine and told them that the liquidator’s report was expected in February 2017.

The minister further promised councillors that he would address them next week Tuesday so that they iron out some issues further. He said there have been negotiations with banks to give the affected employees a discount on their existing loans and that some of them have acceded to the request.

He concurred that the government made a mistake by becoming a 100 per cent shareholder in the mine when other shareholders bailed out.

 Minister Seretse said the government did not forget about TNMC employees, but had to start in Selibe Phikwe where a majority of the affected employees were.

Minister Molefhi said consultations would continue until the issue was finalised, adding that there were still unresolved issues such as the payment of terminal benefits for the employees and others. ENDS