Selebi-Phikwe pins hopes on BCL inquiry findings
Pini Bothoko | Wednesday June 25, 2025 15:00
Addressing a full council meeting recently, Selebi-Phikwe mayor, Oageng Makgosa, said the town is expectantly awaiting the outcome of the government commissioned inquiry.
Many believe the results could bring long-awaited closure and a path forward for the embattled copper mining town.
Makgosa said government is fully aware of the town’s plight, having recently engaged with residents and acknowledged their burning issues.
“The President has openly admitted that the closure of BCL Mine was mishandled. The community now awaits the commission’s findings with great anticipation so that we can get closure and move forward,” the mayor stated.
Makgosa highlighted that Selebi-Phikwe, once a bustling mining hub, is slowly emerging as a beacon of hope amidst Botswana’s broader economic uncertainties, particularly with the decline in diamond sales.
He added that recent discoveries of substantial copper deposits in the area, along with the town’s historical position as an industrial hub, provide renewed economic optimism.
In April this year, Boko exercised his constitutional powers to establish a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the controversial closure of the BCL Ltd Group of Companies in 2016.
The Commission is tasked with investigating a range of issues, including whether former presidents had any undue influence over public officials during the mine’s winding-up process, as well as the roles played by various organs of state and state-owned enterprises.
According to the terms of reference outlined by the President, the Commission is also probing the liquidation process of BCL and its subsidiaries, such as BCL Investments and Tati Nickel Mining Company.
Furthermore, it is looking into allegations of state capture, corruption and fraud within the public sector.
For the people of Selebi-Phikwe, who have borne the brunt of job losses, economic decline and broken promises since the mine’s closure, the inquiry represents more than just an investigation, it’s a chance to reclaim their future.
Makgosa emphasised that the town’s resilience remains unshaken that the process will help unlock the full economic potential of their town.
“I have engaged with the community through kgotla meetings in order to appreciate both the gains and pains of their daily lives.
“It was also an opportunity for me to share my vision for the town with them so that they can contribute towards strengthening and realising it,” he said.
He further revealed that there were some challenges that the community raised that need to be addressed across different council structures.
As the nation awaits the Commission's findings, the people of Selebi-Phikwe are watching closely not only for accountability, but for the promise of economic rebirth.