BCL Mine: One year later :: Mmegi Online

The darkest day, the day when the smoke cleared; whichever phrase you use, in Selebi-Phikwe October 7 will forever be remembered as the day the world stopped spinning. Staff Writer and long-time Phikwe resident, ONALENNA MODIKWA KELEBEILE recalls the period

SELEBI-PHIKWE: October 7, 2017 marked the first anniversary of the closure of the BCL Mine, a life-changing event that remains fresh in the minds of the plus-minus 4,600 rendered jobless.

October 7 will be archived in Selebi-Phikwe’s history books as the town’s darkest day. All the employees, including those who were contracted and sub-contracted to the mine, dependents included, received the biggest shock of their lives. This was the day that the phrase ‘imminent mine closure’ that they had seen in numerous internal memos and which had become a cliché became reality.

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