Transformation Resource Centre intervened in the recent community uprising against the mine due to the dissatisfaction of the community regarding non-compliance of the Storm Mountain Diamonds (SMD) to the agreements made on Friday February 9, 2018. Some of the community grievances include negligible employment opportunities for the community, poor road infrastructure, failure to construct community toilets as corporate social responsibility and resettlement of community members.
The community aggrieved by these incidents went to the main road leading to Tlaeeng embarking on a blockade on Wednesday morning (April 26, 2018) until Thursday afternoon (April 27, 2018). They were forcefully ordered to unblock the road by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Paseka Mokete without any resolutions. DCP Mokete gave the instruction at the public gathering which was meant to give the position of the mine and the police in relation to the community grievances. The community was also requested to give the government an opportunity to intervene in the matters.
However, the mine and the government have aggravated the matter by arresting the chairperson of the community committee on allegations of igniting violence and making life-threatening comments/
No clear resolutions have been made up until this far. The community is still aggrieved and wounded by the reluctance of the mine and government to deliver on their promises. TRC continues to advocate for the rights of the mine affected community and assist in the fair resolutions of the persisting problems.
