Mining baroness Bridgette Radebe has suggested that the chief of Mmakau and a consortium are seeking to overturn the will of the people and causing dissent in the community.
This was in reaction to accusations that Radebe sought to use political influence to obtain prospecting rights in a village that houses her clan, the Motsepes.
The mining consortium, Canamafrika, has accused Radebe of attempting to impose a less than satisfactory offer to invest in platinum mining at the Hoekfontein farm in the village. Radebe and her partners are said to have offered the community 10% of the mine’s profits and did not undertake to carry costs incurred during prospecting.
At the recent Mining Indaba in Cape Town, Radebe is said to have blown her top in anger, taking exception to Canamafrica’s rival bid and informing its CEO Peter Hooper that the chief would most likely lose his position.
In response Radebe confirmed the bid undertaken by her company Mmakau mining, and Cluff mining plc, which was founded in 1996, through a joint venture called the Madibeng Joint Venture. Cluff has a 51% share holding while Mmakau Mining and the Bakgatla have 49%.
Radebe noted that the profit-sharing agreement would not “be negotiated through the media” but expected that “the financial interest of the community will be significantly higher than the 10 % that has been alleged”.
Radebe says the company has a tribal resolution passed in April 2000 that enjoyed the support of 8 000 community members.
“Note that a tribal resolution is intended to indicate the will of the tribe and not simply that of a chief,” says Radebe.
Pat Motsepe, chairperson of the tribal council, told the Mail & Guardian that no agreement had been reached with Mmakau Mining.
On her altercation with Hooper in Cape Town, Radebe said “she voiced her concern and disappointment at the route that Hooper has taken in undermining tribal resolutions and causing dissent within the community” and declined to discuss the issue further.