THURSDAY, 2.00PM:
STATE-owned diamond mine Alexkor is at loggerheads with local Northern Cape pigeon clubs to find the most palatable solution to rid the town of the birds, thought to be used in a uncut diamond smuggling racket that has reportedly cost the mine production losses of up to 20%.
Alexkor’s chief executive Thian Combrink said the mine has started “confiscating” unregistered pigeons, and handing them over to the police. A local sergeant, however, denied this, saying police have not received any birds.
Combrink said the mine is desperate to ban all pigeons in order to curb the crippling diamond theft, but is unsure as how best to handle the ban — shooting the birds not being a preferred option, he said.
Accordingly, the mine is soon to meet with the six registered clubs to negotiate how to “handle the ban”. Chairman of the clubs Koos Coetzee said that although the clubs are not fighting the ban, they are slightly nonplussed as the mine had provided them with their initial funding. He said he expects the mine to compensate the clubs for the loss of their pigeons.
The mine, earmarked for privatisation, is planning to spend over R24-million in upgrading its security system. Management consultants, due to be brought in to oversee the mine’s restructuring, will also offer advice on how to “ban the pigeons”.