Minister in The Presidency for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, Collins Chabane led a visit by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Revitalisation of Mining Communities in distress to Bojanala District Municipality in the North West.
The IMC accompanied by senior officials visited the area to monitor progress on implementation of commitments regarding the Presidential Package. In October 2012, President Jacob Zuma announced a Special Presidential Package designed to improve the living conditions in and around mining communities.
The IMC visited Saulspoort, Boitekong, Bokamoso and Sunway in Mogwase in Bojanala District Municipality.
The IMC visited Saulspoort housing project in Mogwase Unit 8 in Moses Kotane Municipality. The housing project is expected to build 1120 houses with a budget allocation of R73,5 million. The project has has successfully built 1221 houses.
The visit proceeded to Boitekong extension 12, rental community residential units project with budget allocatin of R55 million. The project has started and is expected to build 200 units and is expected to be completed in February 2014.
In Bokamoso integrated housing projects is in progress to build 20 000 housing units in a partnership between government and Anglo American. The first phase of the project (4 000 houses) has been allocated approximately R450 million by government and R450 million by Anglo American. The project has commenced with 16 show houses funded by Anglo American are completed. The first phase that consists of 800 fully subsidised units will commence with the contractor going on site in September 2013.
The Sunway Village in Madibeng is an integrated housing project with phase one expected to build 2200 units. This project is a public private partnership with Hernic Ferrochrome mining company to the value of R108 million.
The IMC found that there were several challenges that needs to be dealt with to speed up the projects delivery.
Minister Collins Chabane said, "The IMC is pleased that the implementation of the Special Presidential Package is on course and that the lives of mine workers and communities surrounding mines are being improved for the better.”
Government, mining companies, labour and traditional leadership are committed to working together to unblock various challenges that have been identified in the implementation of various projects. These include delays with obtaining approvals from various authorities for different aspects of the projects and challenges related to coordination between authorities responsible for different services, such as water, sanitation and electricity.
The IMC is encouraged that the planning of development within mining communities is in line with government's approach of creating integrated human settlements.
Following the Marikana Tragedy, President Jacob Zuma announced that the Presidential High Level Dialogue Committee which comprises the Presidency, the Economic Cluster Ministers, Labour, Business and Community Based Organisations. The committee had agreed on a new package of socio-economic measures to address the dynamics underlying social unrest on the mines and corrosive pressures on the economy.
The Package is a social accord designed to improve the living and working conditions of workers in key mining towns and it is aligned to the Mining Charter, which commits mining companies to, in consultation with stakeholders, established measures for improving the standard of housing, including the upgrading the hostels, conversion of hostels to family units and promote ownership options.
The IMC consists of the following ministries: Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, Human Settlements, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mineral Resources, National Treasury, Labour and Economic Development.
Minister Chabane was accompanied by the following Ministers: Pravin Gordhan, Mildred Oliphant, Edna Molewa and Connie September and Deputy Ministers Andries Nel and Godfrey Oliphant.
This visit will be followed by visits to other idenitfied areas. They include declining mining towns, emerging mining areas, communities around existing towns.This areas include Rustenburg, Lephalale, Sekhukhune, West Rand, Welkom areas and Emalahleni and labour sending areas.
Enquiries:
Harold Maloka
Cell: 082 847 9799
