Promise of 12-18 months salaries a mistake � Molefhi
Onalenna Kelebeile | Friday October 13, 2017 12:55
Molefhi, who was addressing a Kgotla meeting in Botshabelo early this week, said government had an intention to pay, but through the advice from the legal advisors and the liquidator, it was realised that it was impossible to separate employees, who are also creditors, from the rest of the BCL creditors. “This affected the arrangements to effect that decision. I have also explained before that government made a mistake by promising that,” he said.
Molefhi, who is also Selebi-Phikwe East MP, said the creditors’ meeting that is scheduled for November 6-7 in which Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU) will represent employees, would decide on the way forward.
Ex-employees who attended the meeting had earlier on expressed concern that government somersaulted on her promise of 12-18 months salaries. They wondered how they could continue trusting such a government.
“Upon liquidation, we were assured that we remain under the employ of BCL for 12-18 months. As a result we cannot be employed elsewhere because we are viewed as standing BCL employees,’ said one former employee.
“We acquired loans because we were working. Now we owe banks 12 months arrears. Rentals have also accumulated because we stayed with the understanding that government would keep her promise. Pay us so that we can go back to our villages,’ appealed one resident.
Meanwhile, out of the 32 companies who submitted their expressions of interest to buy BCL mine, only three have been selected as serious potential buyers, as they are interested in buying the whole operation.
Molefhi said government has got no intentions of selling the mine piecemeal, but in an investor who would acquire the whole operation. He said currently documents of the three potential buyers are being scrutinised to ascertain their financial strength before they can be invited for due diligence.
He noted that it is government’s intention to see the mine back in operation, hence the care and maintenance team is in place to maintain the mine’s property. He added that the team would continue until the buyer is secured. He did not rule out the possibility of closing the mine completely if efforts to clinch a serious buyer fail. “We will continue to pin our hopes on the three selected companies and see how much we can benefit from them to bring the mine back to life. In the meantime, let us explore other sustainable avenues to diversify our economy away from minerals,” he said.
Ex-miners complained that government only considered those who stayed in mine houses and those whose children attended English medium schools and sidelined those renting and with children who attend government schools.
Goweditswe Tshekiso, who lost his hearing after working in the mine for 32 years, said he was released from the mine on medical grounds, but received only a quarter of what the mine promised. Another ex-miner who also lost his hearing, said he has been pursuing his compensation since 2013 after retiring from BCL in 2007 with all paperwork complete, but up to now he has not been paid. “We appeal to you honourable minister to assist us because we lost our hearing while under the mine employ,” he said.
The ex-employees also pleaded with Molefhi to ask President Ian Khama and Vice President Mokgweetsi Masisi to come and meet them face-to-face.