NCOP QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NUMBER: 57 ADVANCE NOTICE NO: CW83E
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER:
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER:
57. Dr H E Mateme (Limpopo-ANC) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:
(1) Whether his department has assessed the progress made in
implementing the agreement reached between businesses,
government and labour to (a) build housing and other services
and (b) revitalise mining towns, especially in mining areas such
as Matlosana, Emalahleni, Sekhukhune, Lephalale, West Rand and
Matjhabeng; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant
details;
(2) what are the details regarding (a) the upgrading of mine hostels
into family units, (b) attaining the occupancy rate of one
person per room and (c) the facilitation of home ownership
options for mine workers;
(3) whether any mining companies have met the 2014 deadline for the
Social and Labour Plans and Mining Charter targets that are
intended to uphold the dignity of mine workers and communities;
if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the
relevant details? CW83E
REPLY
1) (a) (b) Yes. The progress includes the following:
i) In the 2014/15 financial year more than R419m was spent of the
ring-fenced budget for informal settlement upgrading in
prioritised mining towns in Free State, Mpumalanga and North
West provinces.
ii) Overall over 5000 units have been delivered in the 15
prioritised mining towns.
iii) For 2015/16 financial year the Department of Human Settlements
has aimed to improve this delivery figure and has ring-fenced R1
billion that is anticipated to deliver approximately 19 000
housing opportunities in mining towns.
iv) Approximately 592 hectares of land has been acquired by
municipalities supported by the DHS housing agency for the
purposes of human settlement development in the prioritized
mining towns.
v) The majority of this land is in Limpopo (Fetakgomo) and North
West (Rustenburg). A further 5,646 hectares has been identified
for acquisition.
vi) In Marikana, two human settlement projects are being completed
that will deliver over 500 units, built on land donated by
Lonmin. The houses will cater for the community and mineworkers.
This progress report was also discussed at the recent National Consultative
Forum meeting chaired by His Excellency, President JG Zuma.
(2) (a) (b) As part of restoring the dignity of mineworkers, provision
was made, in the Mining Charter, for the conversion or upgrading of
hostels into family units and attainment of an occupancy rate of one
person per room by 2014. This was implemented as a programme to, among
other things, eradicate single sex hostels which are part of relics of
apartheid. An assessment of progress made by mining companies in
meeting targets in this respect is detailed in the Mining Charter
assessment results, which were released in May 2015. With regard to
facilitation of home ownership for mineworkers, by March 2015, 31 857
mineworkers were participating in various types of home ownership
schemes. However, more still needs to be done to address living
conditions of mineworkers.
(3) Upholding the dignity of mineworkers and communities remains central
to Governmentâs programme of reversing the legacies of apartheid. A
detailed report on progress made by various mining companies, in
meeting the 2014 targets was released to the public, in May 2015
(Mining Charter Assessment Results). In this regard, the Department
is engaging companies on their respective achievements and orders are
being issued in respect of non-compliance. In addition to this, the
Special Presidential Package for the Revitalisation of Distressed
Mining Communities, is in place to address socio-economic challenges
in mining and labour sending areas. Amongst area of focus are the
implementation of integrated and sustainable human settlements,
creation of decent living conditions for mineworkers as well as
meaningful contribution to the development of mining towns and labour
sending areas.