Pretoria - Government has ring-fenced a total of R2.1 billion for housing projects in 14 mining towns to improve the living and working conditions of mineworkers, Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe said on Thursday.
The project would be implemented in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework period.
“A total of R290 million has been approved for informal settlement upgrading for the 2014/15 period in mining towns in Mpumalanga, North West, Gauteng, Northern Cape, Limpopo and the Free State,” Minister Radebe said.
The towns were identified by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Revitalisation of Distressed Mining Communities.
Minister Radebe was addressing the media at the presidential guesthouse in Pretoria after a meeting with the Mining Sector Consultative Forum, which was led by President Jacob Zuma and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.
He said the main objective of the forum was to discuss the implementation of the Framework Agreement for a Sustainable Mining Industry, which was entered into by government, organised business and organised labour in 2013.
Minister of Mineral Resources, Adv. Ngoako Ramatlhodi, said the housing projects would be done in collaboration with the communities.
He said the project was about creating viable communities that would survive, even if the mines were no longer in the areas.
Business centres, health and education facilities would also be included when developing the mining towns.
Minister Radebe said all parties who attended the forum were committed to finding lasting solutions to challenges facing the industry.
“The Mining Sector National Consultative Forum is committed to South Africa’s growth and development objectives and to securing this growth,” Minister Radebe said.
He said Mine Crime Combating Forums were established in the North West, Limpopo, Free State, Gauteng and Mpumalanga to ensure peace and stability.
Forty-seven cases were reported to police in relation to mining and unrest related incidents in mining towns.
“Visible policing in crime hotspots within affected communities has been significantly enhanced, with security patrols at villages and hostels.
“There has been a substantial reduction in illegal and violent protest actions and an improvement in peace and stability,” Minister Radebe said.
Minister Ramatlhodi said he would welcome the use of mechanisation in the mining industry as long it was done in a proper manner.
He said sometimes gold in the mines was found about four kilometres below the ground, which could be dangerous for mineworkers.
The sale and restructuring of mines was not discussed at the meeting. – SAnews.gov.za
