[miningmx.com] – SOUTH Africa mines minister, Ngoako Ramatlhodi, called for calm in Steelpoort in the country’s Limpopo province after protests had disrupted mining operations in the area.
“The right of people to protest is protected by our Constitution,” said Ramalthodi in a statement. “However, we condemn acts of violence and intimidation associated with the protests, and appeal for calm by all concerned,’ he said.
There are a number of chrome mines in the region operated by African Rainbow Minerals (ARM(, Samancor – a joint venture between South32 and Anglo American -, and Tubatse Chrome, as well as ARM’s Two Rivers platinum mine.
The protests relate to a number of abandoned projects, such as tarring of new roads, that residents want reinstated.
