Pretoria – Government is profiling households in the Blyvooruitzicht area to determine what assistance is needed in the area following the liquidation of the Blyvooruitzicht Gold mine.
“Interventions including social relief of distress packages will be provided in the short term, as the team explores medium to long term measures including environmental, economic and infrastructural concerns,” special adviser to Mineral Resources Minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi, Advocate Mahlodi Muofhe said.
In a meeting, which was convened on Thursday by Minister Ramatlhodi, parties agreed that water supply which had been disconnected would be reconnected for a period of one month, as long-term solutions are explored.
Stakeholders who attended the meeting included representatives from the Departments of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Water Affairs, the Masters of the High Court, Social Development, and the Merafong City Local Municipality.
The liquidators also agreed to pay the Merafong Municipality R600 000 to allow the municipality to provide water and repair leakages.
“It is crucial that we learn from this, in order to prevent a similar situation from occurring when a mine is liquidated,” Muofhe said.
A progress meeting will be held in two weeks. – SAnews.gov.za
