MANTSERRE VILLAGE, NORTH WEST — Residents of Mantserre Village in Rustenburg have escalated their grievances against the Samancor mine, handing over a formal memorandum of demands after the mining company commenced blasting operations without adequate community consultation.
The community is protesting the resumption of mining activities over the past two weeks on land they say was previously used for grazing and farming. According to the residents, the mine occupied the area without proper engagement, leaving locals feeling marginalized and demanding immediate intervention.
During the memorandum handover, community representatives emphasized that their grievances extend far beyond simple consultation. “Our demand is not merely for consultation, but for co-ownership, transparency, and benefit-sharing consistent with the intent of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, Section 25 of the Constitution, and the National Development Plan vision of inclusive economic growth,” a community spokesperson stated.
Residents criticized the mine’s management for being unresponsive, describing the company’s leadership as “arrogant and pompous.” They noted that they have been waiting for proper social and labor performance implementation for 12 years. Furthermore, the community expressed dissatisfaction with past compensation models, such as the 30 rand per ton discussed in previous years, insisting that they must now look forward to secure a more equitable future. An elderly resident also voiced deep concerns during the gathering, highlighting the fear that the local community is being systematically robbed of its land rights.
In response to the backlash, Samancor’s Transformation Superintendent defended the company’s actions, stating that proper engagement took place prior to the resumption of mining in the area. The spokesperson attributed the current unrest to “factionalism” within the community.
He explained that the company had already signed agreements with the Mmantserre community through a trust and the traditional leadership office. Addressing the specific claim that mining is occurring on formerly arable land, the Transformation Superintendent acknowledged the land’s agricultural history but dismissed the backlash as an expected reaction to mining operations. “We have land claims all the time whenever you study a mine, so we are not surprised or shocked,” he remarked.
The community has issued a strict five-day ultimatum for the Samancor mine to respond to their memorandum in good faith. Should the company fail to act or respond adequately, residents plan to escalate the matter to multiple authorities. The escalation path includes the Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources, the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development, the South African Human Rights Commission, and ultimately, the High Court of South Africa.
