Eastern Cape Premier Noxolo Kiviet has pleaded with the people of Indwe in Emalahleni Municipality not to confuse their local leaders and the provincial government by fighting over the Coal Mining development. She was addressing residents before her official count down to usher in the first in a series of major blasts signifying the commencement of production at the Elitheni Coal Mine.
There were concerns that a small group of people were planning to disrupt the event because they want to be recognised as a legitimate community trust. But yesterday afternoon community members came out in numbers ululating, singing and dancing saying unequivocally that they have waited a long time for the Mine.
Said Premier Kiviet: "This Coal Mine is going to benefit you the people of Emalahleni, you should be united so that this development can be sustainable and improve your lives. You can't ask us to bring you development and then when we do that, you fight between yourselves over that development. This behavior is confusing us, because we end up not knowing what you want. You are lucky that in your community, you have this mineral resource that has been discovered, embrace these investors so that your lives can improve for the better."
Yesterday signaled over 10 years of exploration work by Elitheni Coal. What was an exploration project went into full swing Production Phase. Residents, Premier Kiviet, MEC for Economic Affairs, Environment and Tourism Mcebisi Jonas and other officials waited patiently for the word go from CEO of Elitheni Coal Dave Nel.
Minutes later the CEO gave Premier Kiviet the go ahead to lead the count and after "5, 4,3,2,1 detonate" by Premier Kiviet a big sound of explosion erupted leading to a thick cloud of smoke and whistles and singing from the residents.
Over 500 direct decent and sustainable jobs will be created in and around the mine in the next 12 Months. The ramp up will see an increase to approximately 2 000 direct Decent and Sustainable Jobs over the next 5 years. Using an acceptable industry multiplier of 1:10, this therefore means we are expecting in excess of 20 000 direct and indirect job opportunities.
The Emalahleni Local Municipal area in the Chris Hani District of the Eastern Cape province has 98% Unemployment rate and 95% of the population here lives below poverty line.
Premier Kiviet said the provincial government:
- Support this development unequivocally
- Through the Provincial Government & Transnet MOU, we will have ensured that Transnet is ready for the first vessel in November this year
- We are continuing to encourage Transnet Freight Rail to release as much as possible of the railway line for the export of this coal
- We are supporting the mine through the contruction access road construction.
Contact:
Tobile Gowa (Media Liaison Officer to the Premier)
Cell: 082 440 6995
Mazizi Msutu (Director Stakeholder Management and Sustainable Development for Elitheni Coal)
Cell: 078 803 5282
