Diversified South African-based resources group Exxaro Resources says a local community member was killed in a shooting incident near its Grootegeluk mine on October 20.
"The deceased was part of a community protest that entered the private property owned by Exxaro near its Grootegeluk mine operations, which protestors set fire to a part of the veld and a conveyor belt leading out of the mine.
"The community member died on the scene after a fatal rubber bullet shot following an exchange with a private security company. We convey our sympathies to the family and community members on this unfortunate loss of life. We will be liaising with the family pending the police investigation," Exxaro notes in an October 21 statement.
The miner notes that it and key leaders from the Lephalale local municipality have, in recent weeks, been holding consultative discussions to resolve the issues that led to protest marches to Exxaro’s assets at its Grootegeluk mine complex.
"The mine management has been engaged in the structured process to address issues related to local recruitment, local procurement, enterprise and supplier development, skills development and social investment initiatives.
"Members of the community engaged in a parallel process of illegal protests outside the structured process on a number of occasions during these consultations, resulting in violent actions that led to the destruction of critical infrastructure and the fatal injury to one of the protesters on the morning of October 20.
Exxaro says it exercises fair corporate governance processes in relation to employment and procurement opportunities to provide transparent and unfettered access to local community members and South African society.
"We will continue to address these issues of concern to reach a long-term resolution on future opportunities for the benefit of community members.
"The community unrest will not have a material impact on the production and sales performance of the mine operations," it adds.