01 Mar 2021

Orapa Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines (OLDM) General Manager, Mr Bakani Motlhabani says Orapa mining town could not open to the public as the mine was not located far from the township.

Mr Motlhabani said this when briefing the sub-council session held in Letlhakane. He stated that the mine could not open to the public because the mining town had gravel diamonds, which were mostly found on the surface, hence use of permits for entrance.

The aim, he said, was to open a south gate to separate mine traffic and infrastructure from public traffic, adding that it was also meant to protect public vehicles from interacting with mine vehicles.

Currently through the East Gate, public traffic passes through slurry dams with the mine on the other side. 

Furthermore, Mr Motlhabani stated that Debswana had approved P4.4 million for different Corporate Social Investment projects for Boteti in 2021. 

He indicated that P1.5 million would be used to fund Letlhakane Cluster Food Security project, P1.3 million to finance MOKOPI Conservation Trust for Mokobaxane and Mopipi communities, P500 000 for Diamond Dream Academic Awards and P100 000 for people living with disabilities in Letlhakane.

Mr Motlhabani stated that Orapa Mine Hospital continued to serve as a referral hospital for the Boteti region. 

He said in 2020, the hospital spent P107 million, with P47 million used to attend to non-paying patients from the Boteti community.

He noted that 44 per cent of total expenditure of the hospital was used on non-paying public patients.

Debswana, he said spent P8.6 million on COVID-19 in Boteti, since the beginning of the pandemic, citing refurbishment of Mmatshumo Isolation Centre as one of the projects that were funded at a tune of P2.4 million.

Moreover, Mr Motlhabani indicated that Debswana did asset closures for COVID-19, saying that Orapa No.1 Plant was closed in December, and Damtshaa was under care and maintenance to be closed by end of March. 

He said No.1 Plant would be rehabilitated into natural environment and sustained, adding that as Damtshaa, it was crucial to close it as a cost cutting measure as the diamond market goes down.

Mr Motlhabani noted that No.2 Plant would be used for production, revealing that Cut 3 timelines may change to 2026. 

He stated that 282 of the 545 people, who worked for the two plants were retrenched through Voluntary Separation and others left through Voluntary Early Retirement. 

He said a small number was from Jwaneng, while the majority were from OLDM, adding that others would leave when Damtshaa Mine closed down at the end of March.

Mr Motlhabani was responding to Orapa Councillor, Chilume Balopi’s request for an update on the establishment of the South Gate as well as plans to redistribute No.1 Plant assets.

Councillor Chilume also called for an additional primary school in Orapa and complained of overstay of companies servicing the mine.

Councillor Thomas Kgethenyane of Moremaoto/ Khumaga had asked if there were any plans to open the mining town to the public. 

He condemned the donation of two vehicles by Debswana, saying it was not empowering people.

He also expressed concern that the area of influence for funding developments in Boteti, through CSI programme, as laid out by Debswana was not practical.

Councillor Basiami Sentsho of Xhumo/Mmadikola complained that there was no Debswana input in Letlhakane with regards to projects that could sustain the lives of the people of Boteti after mining. 

Councillor Sentsho also requested Debswana to redefine boundaries and cover areas, which had not been covered before in terms of funding developments in Boteti, citing areas like Makalamabedi, Motopi and Moremaoto.

Councillor Aaron Baitsemang of Letlhakane asked whether plans to open Cut 3 were still under way and implored Debswana to teach financial literacy among the staff going through retrenchment. Ends