Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu has cancelled the mining rights for top businessman Kenny Kunene’s Central Rand Gold Mine, the department said on Tuesday.
The decision was made last Friday and papers were served on the mine’s office in Johannesburg on Monday, spokesperson Bheki Khumalo said.
“They were only dealing [with] a tenth of the promises they made to the minister. She found it not satisfactory and cancelled the mining licence.”
Khumalo said the rights had been awarded to the mine based on certain agreements it had undertaken to keep. These included implementing a work and social labour programme and contributing to the socioeconomic development of residents in the area.
Khumalo said the mine could appeal the cancellation. It would however need to first deal with the department’s internal processes before approaching the courts.
The mine was not immediately available for comment.
Kunene — who owns the upmarket ZAR nightclub in Greenpoint, Cape Town — attracted media attention for holding his version of the ancient Japanese custom of Nyotaimori, or “body sushi” at the nightclub.
He also spent an estimated R700 000 on his birthday party in October last year. – Sapa