Cllrs Heap Praises On BCL Boss

Botshabelo West Councillor, Koos Mashaba, said unlike before, the government no longer bails out the BCL. Mashaba said Mphathi deserves a pat on the back for being the first local manager to make the mine self- sustaining and very profitable.

He urged the manager to consider ways of processing copper and nickel in the country for export as finished products. He took a dim view of the current practice where BCL exports raw copper and nickel only to buy it back as finished goods. He said processing copper and nickel and exporting them as finished products could contribute towards addressing unemployment in the country. He said this is the crucial time that the mine should act. Koos pleaded with Mphathi to consider re-employing the over 180 employees that were expelled after engaging in an illegal strike in 2004 and 2006.