SACP is calling for a fair share for the people and the unity of the alliance
The South African Communist Party in the Eastern as part of commemorating the 20th anniversary of our late General Secretary, Cde Chris Hani; led a successful march in Lady Frere, Emalahleni, Chris Hani district on the 28 April 2013. The march was led by SACP 2nd Deputy General Secretary, Cde Solly Africa Mapaila, SACP Provincial Secretary Cde Xolile Nqatha and the Central Committee members of the party, Cde Fezeka Loliwe and Cde Bulelwa Tunyiswa.
The march was also joined by the Regional Leadership of African National Congress, the Chairperson and the Regional Secretary respectively. The much drew scores of people from the communities of Emalahleni.
The march is of the result of the Elitheni Coal Operations project (see attached memorandum of demands). We handed over the memorandum of demands to the Official from the Department of Economic Development Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Mr. Ngethu who committed the Department to working with the SACP and the people to respond to the demands of the people.
SACP EASTERN CAPE MEMORANDUM OF DEMANDS
To: Department of Mineral Resources: Minister Susan Shabangu
To: Department of Economic Affairs and Environmental Affairs and Tourism: MEC Mcebisi Jonas
To: Emalahleni Municipality
Executive Mayor; Cllr Nomveliso
Date: 28 April 2013
We, the community of Emalahleni having been organized by the South African Communist Party from our rural areas, farms, squatter camps, etc. We are here in our large numbers to demand the following in Elitheni Coal Operations and our government.
1. During the first and the second phase of the mining activities the community close to the Elitheni Coal Operations had their homestead badly damaged by the mining. The mine owners deliberately ignored their obligation to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). We demand the affected households be compensated with immediate effect.
2. We demand the immediate Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to avoid any environmental effect to the people and their children.
3. The communities were not taken on board about the use of their communal land whilst it affected their livestock. We demand that the communities be taken on board on issues affecting the communal land as it has far reaching implications on their living patterns.
4. On the issue of beneficiation in the mining project through shareholding, the 74% belong to a company in London Stock Exchange; 26% belongs to BEE and a tiny 3% to the Mager Project of Chris Hani District Municipality. We firmly believe that this 3% is broad daylight robbery to the people of Emalahleni and South Africans at large. We are demanding a fair share to be allocated to the people of Emalahleni for them to develop their community.
5. We demand that the immediate communities of Emalahleni to be given a fair share in the mining activities taking place in their communal land. The freedom charter stipulates that the mineral wealth beneath the soil, the banks and the monopoly industry shall be transferred to the ownership of the people as the whole.
6. In connection to beneficiation of the Chris Hani People, Emalahleni communities in particular through sustainable jobs to ensure sustainable livelihood. We have noted that it is only 10% of people from this district who are employed by the mine. We demand a significant increase in the employment of people of Chris Hani District.
7. We demand that the workers in the Elitheni Mine Operations be employed as permanent workers not casuals as that represent a labour brokering of high note.
8. In light of the above mentioned, we demand that workers should be allowed to form a trade union for their bargaining platforms as enshrined in the constitution.
9. We are calling upon this government of the people to intervene on behalf of the people.
10. We are calling upon our government to ensure that all big private companies coming to invest in our country do not neglect their responsibilities towards the communities and the people of this land.
11. We are calling upon government to call an urgent mining indaba for all the interested parties.
We are putting our demands in front of our government and the Elitheni Coal Operations for them to be addressed as the matter of urgency.
Received by: ______________________________
Date:_________________
Delivered by:___________________________
Date:__________________
Witness :_____________________________
Date: _________________
Issued by the SACP Eastern Cape, April 29 2013
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