'Mining portfolio committee responds to Macua’s allegations’ 4 March 2025

The Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Petroleum Resources (PCMPR) has denied allegations that the Mining Affected Communities United in Action (Macua) was excluded from the recent oversight discussion in Mpumalanga. Macua criticised the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) and claimed that the exclusion came shortly after it had written to the PCMPR on February 14 and accused DMPR of providing Parliament with false and misleading information that distorts the realities faced by mining-affected communities. The organisation also reported a possible criminal offence to the committee against DMPR last year for allegedly providing misleading information in parliament.

This was after the committee recently conducted oversight visits to mining companies in the Nkangala region and engaged with labour unions and community members to discuss various issues relating to the sector, including operations, compliance and challenges, as well as the mines’ adherence to social and labour plans (SLPs). Macua said its exclusion was not an accident but an attempt by 'elected officials to silence the voices of mining-affected communities while continuing to protect the interests of the mining elite'. The organisation said the failure of the committee to notify it, despite its formal request for engagement, exposes the continued disregard for the democratic participation of those who suffer the consequences of mining-related injustices.

…Mahlaule said the department responded to the committee on December 4, 2024, 2024 and clarified that the figures presented were based on the achieved planned annual target for the year in question, as this is reflected in the annual report of the department. “The response of the department was sent to Macua. However, Macua was not happy with the response and insisted that the committee should have investigated the matter and not relied on the response of the department. We did not take the matter forward because we were satisfied with the response,” Mahlaule said.