Protests flaring up in the mining areas

Rustenburg – In one of the latest protests [Tuesday 25 January] on the Old Mine Road leading to the Sibanye, Anglo American and other mining operations, employees, contractors and suppliers were met by officers of Rustenburg’s Department of Public Safety who blocked the road, due to protests.

Over the past two weeks, several protests and blocking off roads in and around Rustenburg’s mining areas were reported. 

The protests were also for various reasons, including a lack of jobs, infrastructure which became unbearable because it was vandalised over a period… And in some of the protests, infrastructure which were vandalised previously, were vandalised even further.

The Platinum Weekly spoke to Sipho Mahlangu, who unlike other commuters, who just turned around, parked his truck on the side of the road, waiting for the protest to dissipate. He told us that he has been waiting for more than four hours, hoping to complete a delivery at Sibanye.

After several hours, police and other security officers eventually managed to disperse the protestors, without anyone being injured or any serious incidents being reported, and they were able to restore access to the Old Mine Road.  

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