Mining Affected Communities United In Action an organization of 50 community based organizations in communities affected by mining will hold pickets on Wednesday 16 April 2014, at the Provincial Offices of the Department of Mineral Resources in Gauteng, Northwest (Klerksdorp and the Provincial Legislature in Rustenburg), Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Kimberly(Northern Cape) and the Free State to call on the President to send the MPRDA Bill, which was passed in a period of 3 days though the National Council of Provinces in March this year, back to Parliament for proper community participation.
The government has allowed two laws on mining and land rights to be rushed through the National Council of Provinces . This is completely unacceptable for a number of reasons.
• When the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Amendment Bill and the Restitution of Land Rights was first introduced to parliament we expected that when we told Parliament to include communities that they would listen to the communities.
• Instead they treated communities who went to parliament very badly, questioning the mandates and ridiculing their language use.
• The Department of Mineral Resources then met separately with the Mining companies and included the things that business wanted, into the law.
• Only two hearings were held in the provinces with no time for communities to have their say.
• Even though 5 provinces said there must be more community participation in the mining laws, this was not included in the Bill
• The Bill was rushed through The NCOP in 3 Days
• No recommendations made by communities were included in the Bill
People’s participation in law making and decisions that have huge impacts on our lives is a central part of democracy and yet despite our constitution, companies are treated as more important than people.
MACUA will embark on a Campaign for Community Participation and We call on all communities and supporting organisations to join us in our campaign to demand Nothing About Us Without Us. We have written to the Minister of Mineral Resources urgently requesting a meeting. We have written to the Presidency formally requesting they withdraw this Bill as the NCOP failed to comply with their duties to ensure participation under sections 72 and 118 of the Constitution. MACUA SAYS Nothing About Us Without Us