Joint Development Forum
Background
Bigen Africa Management Services presented the historical problem
to leading mines in the Sekhukhune District. These mines had an
ever-increasing need for services, to meet their needs in developing
the mines. The intention was to develop a mechanism that would
bridge the gap between the two parties, thereby enhancing service
delivery and local social and economic empowerment. After buy-in
from the mines, this concept was presented to the Councillor Namane
Dickson Masemola, Executive Mayor of the Sekhukhune District
Municipality who immediately accepted the challenge.
The ever-increasing needs of poor communities in the vast rural
areas of the Sekhukhune district together with the needs of local
mines, in their developmental process, stimulated the need for
development of the area through a mechanism that would represent
both sides.
On 5 December 2000, the Sekhukhune District Municipality was
established, in terms of the Constitution of the Republic of South
Africa and the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, as the
third sphere of government for the Sekhukhune area in the Limpopo
Province, which include the Eastern Limb Mining Area stretching from
Steelpoort to Lebowa Platinum Mine in the North of the Study Area.
In his State of the Nation Address in Parliament on 14 February
2003, President Thabo Mbeki gave hope for the area’s water problems
when he referred to an investment and indicated that: "This
investment will include key economic infrastructure projects such as
the construction in the coming period of a dam on the Olifants River
in the Limpopo Province to provide water for platinum mining and
agriculture."
The District Municipality, with its headquarters in Groblersdal,
is a Presidential Nodal Point. Although the area includes rich
mines, wealthy farmers and successful business people, it also
experiences various social, health and developmental problems due
to; the vast rural area, a lack of services (particularly basic
water), high unemployment and a lack of capacity within the local
governmental structures.
Services levels are very low with water, sanitation and
electricity being critical. In the Makhuduthamaga area alone, only
20% of the population is served with water and 10% with some form of
sanitation.
| The challenge facing
Central, Provincial and Local Government, as well as mines and
businesses in the area, is to create a sustainable
socio-economic environment through pro-active developmental
projects and capacity building. |
Various platinum mines operate in the Eastern Limb. The most
prominent mining groups in the area are:
- Asa Metals
- Lebowa Platinum Mine
- Samancor Cr. Tubatse
- Ataclay Mine
- Maandagshoek Mine
- Two Rivers Platinum Mine
- Dwarsrivier Mine
- Marula Mine
- Xstrata Vantech
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