Strathrae Colliery in Carolina Faces Community Backlash Over Alleged Exclusion

A mining controversy is simmering in Carolina, Mpumalanga, where Strathrae Colliery is being accused of shutting out a local community forum from crucial empowerment and development talks. The issue raises larger questions about how mining firms engage with communities that host their operations.

Divided Community Sparks Tensions

The Asibambaneni Progressive Development Forum claims Strathrae has sidelined it in discussions around job creation, business empowerment, and local development projects. According to the forum, only members aligned with a structure preferred by the mine are seeing tangible benefits.

In response, Jansen van Nieuwenhuizen, Strathrae Colliery’s General Manager for Coal Operations, said the mine cannot recognise every community structure. “Strathrae Colliery reiterates that the correct manner to engage is through the 21 Youth Development Structure (21 YDS),” he wrote in a letter to the forum. “To maintain clarity and avoid confusion, we will continue to engage with the recognised community structure, as designated by the community itself.”

Van Nieuwenhuizen cited past issues where multiple parallel engagement channels had caused disorder, operational inefficiency, and confusion. He stressed that the mine has a legal and operational duty to maintain “orderly communication” and avoid duplication of efforts.

Community Leaders Push Back

Community leaders, however, argue that the mine is legally obligated to engage with all groups affected by its operations. Makhaza Ntuli, a spokesperson for the forum, said that the structure endorsed by the mine benefits only a select few, leaving many community members excluded from contracts and opportunities.

One of the unresolved grievances involves a school that the mine demolished two years ago to make way for its operations. “The mine was supposed to rebuild it around June, but that never happened,” Ntuli said. “When we asked, they told us not to communicate directly with them.”

Another forum representative expressed concern that the chairperson of the recognised structure works for the mine, liaises as the community officer, and conducts business with the companypotentially creating a conflict of interest that blocks broader community engagement.

“By law, all legitimate structures should have access to the mine management,” she said. “We demand full disclosure on the names and numbers of community members and youth who have benefited, as well as access to the social labour plan.”

A Broader Debate on Mining Accountability

This dispute highlights a persistent challenge in South Africa’s mining sector: balancing operational efficiency with transparency, accountability, and genuine community empowerment. Social media reaction has been mixed, with some locals supporting the mine’s need for order, while others accuse it of favouring insiders and perpetuating inequality.

Experts note that mining companies operating in host communities must not only adhere to statutory requirements but also maintain ethical engagement to prevent long-term tensions. In Mpumalanga, where coal mining remains a cornerstone of the economy, disputes like this one underscore the fragility of trust between industry and local communities.

As Carolina watches closely, the controversy at Strathrae Colliery serves as a reminder that in mining towns, social licence to operate is as crucial as the coal beneath the ground.

{Source: The Citizen}

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