Three men were arrested less than a week ago, for illegal mining related charges, in Bapong, in the North West.
Police have arrested another 11, and seized 10 excavators.
Mining Affected Communities United in Action (MACUA) says there is a crisis of illegal mining, poverty, and violence in the area.
The union said it stands with the Bapong community in their fight for justice against selfish mining interests.
Sabelo Mnguni, Spokesperson of MACUA, said the ongoing challenges in communities like Bapong, were caused by a mining model that excludes communities and allows companies to walk away with billions.
“When corporations extract massive wealth, but the legal mechanisms for community benefit, such as royalties and social upliftment programs, are blocked or corrupted, a cycle of desperation begins.”
Mnguni also said “exclusion from employment and genuine economic opportunities means many residents are left with no viable options, resorting to illegal mining simply because they need to put food on the table.”
He said MACUA is calling for a Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). This would allow communities to grant or withhold consent for mining on their land.
“The Bapong applicants are demanding their resettlement be based on the FPIC principle” said Mnguni.
MACUA also wants wealth sharing to be made compulsory. “A legal framework must be established to ensure an equitable share of mineral wealth is returned to communities, thus eliminating the poverty that fuels the illegal syndicates.”
Picture: Supplied