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Mining Affected communities are deeply concerned by the arrogance of Minister Mantashe who has consistently ignored court rulings compelling him to consult with mining affected communities as legitimate stakeholders of the mining sector. Instead of abiding by the court rulings and by so doing, promote the values of the Constitution which demands participatory political processes, the Minister instead seeks to undermine the very constitution we fought and died for.

MACUA and WAMUA will today picket at the offices of the Department of Mineral Resources to serve notice that should the Minister and the DMR continue to bully the community of Xolobeni, that MACUA will launch a National campaign in support of the community, which will see mining affected communities from across South Africa take to the streets.

Meshack Mbangula, National Coordinator of MACUA linked the Xolobeni matter to the unilateral way in which Minister Matashe withdrew the MPRDA Ammendment Bill which is urgently in need of a complete over hall. He says that “

The MPRDA contains a vague provision regarding consultation with ' interested and affected persons'. No consent processes are established. FPIC must be incorporated into our legislation and policies. Without any further delay. We call for the scrapping of the MPRDA and for the DMR to immediately engage us on the development of new mining legislation.”

As MACUA and WAMUA we remind the Minister that there will be:
NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US

HANDS OF XOLOBENI
WE WILL NOT BE SILENT WHILE OUR LAND AND HERITAGE IS SOLD TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER

Issued by MACUA And WAMUA