Two activists in North West Province are taking on a Marikana mining company which they say wants to gag them through a court interdict.The two activists say they represent the community of Mmaditlhokwa village which is affected by blasting and dust and contamination of drinking water.Two community-based environmental justice activists are taking on the might of a Marikana mining company which, they say, is attempting to gag them through a court interdict.
They will argue that it constitutes strategic litigation against public participation, otherwise known as a SLAPP suit, which the Constitutional Court has recognised as an abuse, to silence and distract activists who cannot afford expensive litigation. "It is clear the mine seeks to silence those trying to hold them accountable for harms related to mining activities, such as damage to houses from blasting and contamination of drinking water, among others. These issues are the subject of a pending inquiry in respect of the Mine Health and Safety Act," CALS said in a statement.
Mkuni said there were"established channels" to raise complaints. But Kgatea and Kotsedi had not used these. Instead they had threatened to block the blasting operations, threatening the mine's security personnel and the mine manager. He said the plight of the community had been highlighted in documentaries and at an inquiry initiated in terms of the Mine Health and Safety Act. Those findings were still pending.There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.