MINERALS COUNCIL STRONGLY CONDEMNS LAWLESNESS IN RICHARDS BAY AREA

Johannesburg, 30 June 2021. The Minerals Council South Africa condemns in the strongest possible terms the ongoing acts of violence, criminal activity, serious threats to security and failures by law enforcement agencies to perform their constitutional mandate to uphold the rule of law and order impacting mining companies with operations in the Richards Bay area, and elsewhere in the country.

Continued acts of lawlessness including blockages of roads, burning of equipment and intimidation of staff at mining operations are not only unacceptable and damaging to the country’s reputation as an investment destination, but also impact the lives and livelihoods of mining employees, their families and surrounding communities.

The closure of mining operations due to security concerns negatively impacts on production, employment and investment, and will ultimately have severe adverse economic and social consequences.

The murder of Nico Swart, General Manager of Operational Services at Rio Tinto’s Richards Bay Minerals on 24 May 2021 while on his way to work, and others who have suffered the same fate, is a tragedy that will forever tarnish our country’s reputation.

The Minerals Council calls on government to act swiftly to urgently restore law and order in the area. This requires urgent action by the national Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster.

Statement issued by Charmane Russell, Minerals Council, 30 June 2021