Date: 31/08/2004
Source: Limpopo Provincial Government
Title: S Moloto: Provincial Mining Summit
WELCOME ADDRESS BY MR SELLO MOLOTO, PREMIER OF LIMPOPO, DURING THE PROVINCIAL MINING SUMMIT, Meropa Casino and Entertainment World, 31 August 2004
Programme director,
Minister of Minerals and Energy affairs
Members of the Executive Council
Mayors from district and local municipalities
Our traditional leaders
Representatives of academic and business
community present
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen.
The May 2003 Growth and Development Summit identified mining as one of the strategic economic growth sectors in the country. The summit further identified the need to establish the necessary institutions and develop more skills relevant and equal to the challenges in the area of mining and related sectors.
In Limpopo, mining is one of our major competitive edges. In the past ten years we saw massive investments in this sector, with the opening up of new mines and building of two major smelters, i.e. Platinum Smelter in Polokwane and Ferrochrome Smelter in Dilokong.
These investments have led to a growing economy that by far surpassed the national average. The worrying aspect about this growth has, however, been a concern, perceived or real, that these investments have not been creating the number of jobs proportionate to the investments themselves.
There has always been an outcry from our people, including those residing alongside the mining sites about these developments. Our communities are unable to comprehend this sort of complex developments about mining, and their relationship with these mines has always been an adversarial one. It has always been characterised by demonstrations and protests.
We have therefore convened this summit to amongst others understand the issues involved in order for us to be able to explain to our people what we are dealing with, and assist them to strategically see themselves as equal partners and role players in this industry.
Obviously, the national Minister for Minerals and Energy Affairs will, in detail, take us through the legislative and policy imperatives of this industry in the country, our province included. We are therefore not going to be dwelling much on that issue, safe to say that the principles embodied in the Mining Charter are very clear in terms of equity and black economic empowerment fundamentals.
Equally, we know that the educated and the established black business in the province will be interested in the issues of equity and BEE. They will obviously be posing penetrating questions on these issues, and I believe, on how best they can benefit and contribute in this booming industry.
The less educated and the poor will however be more preoccupied by their immediate concerns, i.e. employment and good neighbourliness. The issues which will normally be contained in their memorandums and petitions when they march or demonstrate will include amongst others the demand for employment, the increasing number of shacks and squatter camps, the increasing levels of crimes, health hazards like cracking houses, air and water pollution, increasing incidences of HIV and AIDS in their locality, and social upliftment programmes. These demonstrations will normally start at the mining sites, and if there is a feeling that their issues are not being given attention, they will either proceed to the Mayor or Premier's offices.
Programme director
As Limpopo, we still have a living memory of the effects of the environmental degradation and neglect of mining health safety and standards. The case of asbestosis in the province is still haunting many of our people in Mafafe and Burgersfort.
The other issue, which small businesses around the mines have always been raising in relation to mining and mining operations, is procurement. They are looking at issues like security provisions, catering, gardening or landscaping, transportation, cleaning and venting. The trend seems to have always been that even for these simple and non-core services where small business could have been engaged, still well established and big business is being contracted to provide the services.
Programme director
There are obviously challenges which the both mining sector and government would have to confront and deal with. One of such challenges has always been the water provision. As it is well known, our province has got an acute shortage of water. The established mines in the province have always been very co-operative in this regard, as together with government are trying to get solutions to otherwise complex challenges. We would like to take this opportunity to thank them for the co-operation and understanding. It is our firm belief that together we can remove all the obstacles, craft models and set new milestones for our own development as it has been proven by our co-operation in water provision.
Government's commitment in ensuring that these issues are addressed is unquestionable, and we would continue to welcome any co-operation from the mining houses. The plan to build De Hoop Dam to supply water to the mines around Sekhukhuneland is at an advanced stage. In the same vein, the raising of Flag Boshielo Dam to provide water to Mokopane is progressing well. Other developments like the raising of Mokolo, Tzaneen and Nwamitwa Dams are being explored.
Gauteng developed to what it is today largely through mining in the last century. This obviously presupposes that it took a long time to develop. Our expectation is that in this era of technological advancement we don't need a century to develop to where Gauteng is. We should take advantage of this advanced technology in order to accelerate the development of both the secondary and tertiary economy in the mining industry. I assume that we have experts among us who will dwell much on this issue because we hold a firm view that the greater part of the solution to increasing levels of employment in this sector lies in the development of this secondary economy, commonly referred to as beneficiation. For it is within reach, possible and it can be done.
The provincial government has finalised its Human Resource Development Strategy. This strategy has succeeded in identifying the skills gaps and shortages in our economy. We are therefore acutely aware of the skills shortage in the Mining sector. There have already been some interventions in this regard. The University of the North has already introduced courses in mining. What is needed is to build on these initiatives. Government has already introduced learnerships in the public and private sectors. If we can take full advantage of these partnerships, we can easily short-circuit the development of these skills within this sector.
Programme director
We have attempted to outline both the challenges and opportunities, which are there for all of us. There may be some, which we might have omitted but our expectation is that this forum is going to in detail interrogate all of these issues, which we have raised in order to develop an action plan, which is going to provide answers to all these challenges.
We are confident that in this room we have got men and women of good intellect and capacity to equal the task and challenges ahead of us.
We have come this far working together, and together lets continue to make the difference. We would like to repeat that it is within reach, possible and it can be done.
It is now my pleasure to welcome you to this mining summit.
Good luck!
Issued by Office of the Premier, Limpopo Provincial Government
31 August 2004
Source: Limpopo Provincial Government
Title: S Moloto: Provincial Mining Summit
WELCOME ADDRESS BY MR SELLO MOLOTO, PREMIER OF LIMPOPO, DURING THE PROVINCIAL MINING SUMMIT, Meropa Casino and Entertainment World, 31 August 2004
Programme director,
Minister of Minerals and Energy affairs
Members of the Executive Council
Mayors from district and local municipalities
Our traditional leaders
Representatives of academic and business
community present
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen.
The May 2003 Growth and Development Summit identified mining as one of the strategic economic growth sectors in the country. The summit further identified the need to establish the necessary institutions and develop more skills relevant and equal to the challenges in the area of mining and related sectors.
In Limpopo, mining is one of our major competitive edges. In the past ten years we saw massive investments in this sector, with the opening up of new mines and building of two major smelters, i.e. Platinum Smelter in Polokwane and Ferrochrome Smelter in Dilokong.
These investments have led to a growing economy that by far surpassed the national average. The worrying aspect about this growth has, however, been a concern, perceived or real, that these investments have not been creating the number of jobs proportionate to the investments themselves.
There has always been an outcry from our people, including those residing alongside the mining sites about these developments. Our communities are unable to comprehend this sort of complex developments about mining, and their relationship with these mines has always been an adversarial one. It has always been characterised by demonstrations and protests.
We have therefore convened this summit to amongst others understand the issues involved in order for us to be able to explain to our people what we are dealing with, and assist them to strategically see themselves as equal partners and role players in this industry.
Obviously, the national Minister for Minerals and Energy Affairs will, in detail, take us through the legislative and policy imperatives of this industry in the country, our province included. We are therefore not going to be dwelling much on that issue, safe to say that the principles embodied in the Mining Charter are very clear in terms of equity and black economic empowerment fundamentals.
Equally, we know that the educated and the established black business in the province will be interested in the issues of equity and BEE. They will obviously be posing penetrating questions on these issues, and I believe, on how best they can benefit and contribute in this booming industry.
The less educated and the poor will however be more preoccupied by their immediate concerns, i.e. employment and good neighbourliness. The issues which will normally be contained in their memorandums and petitions when they march or demonstrate will include amongst others the demand for employment, the increasing number of shacks and squatter camps, the increasing levels of crimes, health hazards like cracking houses, air and water pollution, increasing incidences of HIV and AIDS in their locality, and social upliftment programmes. These demonstrations will normally start at the mining sites, and if there is a feeling that their issues are not being given attention, they will either proceed to the Mayor or Premier's offices.
Programme director
As Limpopo, we still have a living memory of the effects of the environmental degradation and neglect of mining health safety and standards. The case of asbestosis in the province is still haunting many of our people in Mafafe and Burgersfort.
The other issue, which small businesses around the mines have always been raising in relation to mining and mining operations, is procurement. They are looking at issues like security provisions, catering, gardening or landscaping, transportation, cleaning and venting. The trend seems to have always been that even for these simple and non-core services where small business could have been engaged, still well established and big business is being contracted to provide the services.
Programme director
There are obviously challenges which the both mining sector and government would have to confront and deal with. One of such challenges has always been the water provision. As it is well known, our province has got an acute shortage of water. The established mines in the province have always been very co-operative in this regard, as together with government are trying to get solutions to otherwise complex challenges. We would like to take this opportunity to thank them for the co-operation and understanding. It is our firm belief that together we can remove all the obstacles, craft models and set new milestones for our own development as it has been proven by our co-operation in water provision.
Government's commitment in ensuring that these issues are addressed is unquestionable, and we would continue to welcome any co-operation from the mining houses. The plan to build De Hoop Dam to supply water to the mines around Sekhukhuneland is at an advanced stage. In the same vein, the raising of Flag Boshielo Dam to provide water to Mokopane is progressing well. Other developments like the raising of Mokolo, Tzaneen and Nwamitwa Dams are being explored.
Gauteng developed to what it is today largely through mining in the last century. This obviously presupposes that it took a long time to develop. Our expectation is that in this era of technological advancement we don't need a century to develop to where Gauteng is. We should take advantage of this advanced technology in order to accelerate the development of both the secondary and tertiary economy in the mining industry. I assume that we have experts among us who will dwell much on this issue because we hold a firm view that the greater part of the solution to increasing levels of employment in this sector lies in the development of this secondary economy, commonly referred to as beneficiation. For it is within reach, possible and it can be done.
The provincial government has finalised its Human Resource Development Strategy. This strategy has succeeded in identifying the skills gaps and shortages in our economy. We are therefore acutely aware of the skills shortage in the Mining sector. There have already been some interventions in this regard. The University of the North has already introduced courses in mining. What is needed is to build on these initiatives. Government has already introduced learnerships in the public and private sectors. If we can take full advantage of these partnerships, we can easily short-circuit the development of these skills within this sector.
Programme director
We have attempted to outline both the challenges and opportunities, which are there for all of us. There may be some, which we might have omitted but our expectation is that this forum is going to in detail interrogate all of these issues, which we have raised in order to develop an action plan, which is going to provide answers to all these challenges.
We are confident that in this room we have got men and women of good intellect and capacity to equal the task and challenges ahead of us.
We have come this far working together, and together lets continue to make the difference. We would like to repeat that it is within reach, possible and it can be done.
It is now my pleasure to welcome you to this mining summit.
Good luck!
Issued by Office of the Premier, Limpopo Provincial Government
31 August 2004
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