ANC STATEMENT ON ADVANCES IN DISTRESSED MINING TOWNS
Tuesday, 30 June 2015
Johannesburg
The African National Congress welcomes the progress update on the revitalisation of mining towns released by the President of the Republic of South Africa, Comrade Jacob Zuma . This update is especially important, coming as it does, a few days after the President released the report of the Judicial Commission into the events at the Marikana Mine, Rustenburg in the period leading up to and including 16 August 2012.
The African National Congress has consistently held a view that collectively, we have a responsibility to construct and maintain inclusive and fair workplace relations enabling South Africans to work together to achieve their common interests. The events at Marikana once again tragically exposed deep seated tensions that arise as a result of our highly unequal society, the lack of decent work and need to ensure that South Africa’s natural resources are utilised in a manner that benefits the nation as a whole.
It is for this reason, amongst others, that 53rd National Congress of the ANC directed government to urgently conduct a comprehensive review of whether mining companies are meeting their obligations regarding social and labour plans, effectively integrating these with community and municipal development programmes. It is gravely concerning therefore that one of the findings of the Commission criticised Lonmin’s implementation of undertakings with regards to the Social and Labour plans.
Our country will continue to draw lessons from the tragedy that was Marikana and it is our hope that there is greater realisation of the urgent need for the private sector to partner with government to help drive the country’s economy. We once again reassert our view that it is inconceivable that mining companies flourish while communities around them live in abject poverty.
It is within this context therefore that the African National Congress commends the strides made by government through the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Revitalisation of Distressed Mining Communities, working together with mining companies, towards the development of integrated and sustainable human settlements as well as improving the living and working conditions of mine workers in mining communities and labour sending areas.
These include 66 public sector housing projects currently underway throughout the country, with 7000 housing units already delivered and another 19000 units planned for this year; 500 of these in Marikana. The establishment of Special Economic Zones in municipalities such as Bojanala, Agri-hubs in Madibeng and Marikana, Agro-processing in the OR Tambo District in the Eastern Cape and revitalisation of the Vulindlela Industrial Park in the King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality are but some of the bold actions being undertaken to improve the socio-economic conditions of the identified mining communities and labour sending areas.
Significant progress has also been made in improving the living and working conditions of mine workers through amongst others an enhanced social protection system for current and former workers, promotion of occupational health and safety through the establishment one stop service centres to bring health and compensation services to current and former mineworkers.
The African National Congress’s economic vision rests on the Freedom Charter’s call that the people shall share in the country’s wealth. Whilst still much more still remains to be done, we trust that some of these interventions will go a long way towards the creation of decent work which is the primary focus of our economic policy. More decisive and resolute action is required from all social partners to confront the challenges facing us including ensuring more equitable redistribution of our economic assets and accelerating economic growth.
Statement issued by the African National Congress, July 1 2015
