05 Nov 2017

Jwaneng mine is said to be committed to enhancing its relations with stakeholders through the Socio-Economic Assessment Tool (SEAT).

Addressing Mabutsane Sub-district councillors recently, Jwaneng mine public and corporate affairs officer, Mr Rebaone Tswiio noted that the intention of SEAT was to get feedback from the communities around Jwaneng, within which the mine operates.

He said the research was carried out by independent consultants who communicated their findings with the mine for action.

He noted that from the last SEAT study, which was conducted in 2014, the communities had decried inadequate stakeholder engagement as well as ignorance on the mine’s procurement processes.

He said the company had since increased collaboration with the district leadership and other relevant stakeholders to address such issues.

Further, he explained that the mine continued to hold road shows in different places around the district, through which they raised awareness on different departments’ mandate, including the procurement procedures.

Again, Mr Tswiio said there was a concern that Jwaneng mine was using water from Magagarape boreholes for its operations, yet residents of surrounding villages did not have access to water.

He said they had addressed the issue through the Maboane CSI Water Project, which is now complete and operational.

He said the project, which encompassed refurbishment of three boreholes, construction of an electric pump station as well as provision of Maboane reservoir tank to supply water to Maboane, Takatokwane and Dutlwe residents.

Additionally, he noted that the 2014 assessment had attributed the cracking of some houses in Jwaneng to the blasting operations at the mine.

However, he said the expert findings indicated that such operations did not have any effect on the structures.

He noted that the findings showed that the houses did not comply with different building guidelines during construction.

Mr Tswiio also said Jwaneng mine continued to enforce labour rules and regulations with contractors engaged by the mine.

He said they had initiated labour clinics to address labour issues and reduce conflicts between contractors and their employees.

For their part, the councillors applauded Jwaneng mine for its concerted efforts to engage communities and improve the livelihoods of residents.

Tsonyane ward councillor, Mr Moitshephi Ontiretse said even though the company’s annual CSI budget could not meet the needs of all the communities, their efforts were commendable.

He also appreciated the capacity building fora that Jwaneng mine continued to undertake in the district.

Cllr Ms Kelatlhilwe Paraffin for Khakhea ward, appreciated the projects that the Jwaneng mine was undertaking, but said the mine should consider other areas outside their 80km radius, especially the rural areas that were in dire need of developmens. ENDS