BCP speaks on BCL accidents
Innocent Selatlhwa | Tuesday May 31, 2016 09:11
Saleshando wants the government to come up with a long-term strategy addressing issues of retrenchments and safety amongst others.
“As the BCP, we have always spoken out about the problem at BCL. We believe it is more than just a managerial problem, but a deep rooted one which needs the government to come up with a comprehensive strategy to ensure that masses do not lose jobs and also work on improving the deteriorating safety standards,” he said.
Saleshando said it was saddening that with such a tragic accident the company had punished some of those who spoke out about it.
According to a press statement by Minerals, Energy and Water Resources minister Kitso Mokaila, a fatal accident occurred underground involving personnel at the BCL mine. A cage carrying 10 employees who were on their regular night shift at the South East Extension crashed killing four with the remaining six confirmed as critical. “I would further like to assure the nation that my ministry has initiated investigations on the accident to get to the root cause and will contract an independent safety auditor to look into safety,” Mokaila said.
Selebi-Phikwe West legislator Dithapelo Keorapetse who is also the BCP publicity secretary has since his entry to Parliament been vocal about issues concerning welfare of the employees, their job security as well as their safety in the workplace. He has grilled Mokaila on a number of occasions on issues relating to the mine with the minister giving assurance that they would do all they can to normalise the situation. “They also decried the decline of safety standards at BCL and point to many injuries and deaths and say most people who died lacked experience to work and supervise risky areas and operations,” Keorapetse was quoted in a previous interview. When unveiling Ditlhong, Saleshando said: “It is not just about her being a woman and a young person, she has worked very hard for the party alongside her predecessor and we believe she will deliver to the Kelemogile community.” The campaign manager is the area legislator Samuel Rantuana.
Saleshando also told the media that they are ready for negotiations and appreciate that internal party turmoil are not unique to any party but expressed hope that BMD would resolve its issues to make way for negotiations.