JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – A budget of more than R9-billion has been set aside for the revitalisation of mining towns and the eradication of informal settlements, the inter-Ministerial committee (IMC) responsible for this task has revealed.
Government contributed R6-billion of the overall funding, while mining companies had contributed in excess of R3-billion.
The IMC, which comprises representatives from the departments of Human Settlements, Mineral Resources and Labour, as well as the Presidency, on Tuesday briefed the Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements on plans to implement a commitment by President Jacob Zuma to revitalise distressed mining communities and eradicate informal settlements.
The portfolio committee called for guidelines to be drawn up to set out the criteria for how much funding respective mining companies should contribute to meeting the goals of revitalising mining towns and eradicating informal settlements, as well as other relevant projects.
It further requested the IMC to table quarterly reports to enable MPs to track the progress made in the implementation of these goals.
Committee chairperson Nocawe Mafu said it was important for the committee to hold those tasked with the implementation of the Special Presidential Package for Distressed Mining Towns accountable, noting that the project was critical for the wellbeing of mineworkers and their families.
“We want to see concrete progress in the implementation of this project. When you come before us, in the next three months, we want to know how much work you [have] done. We do not want a stagnant project,” she stressed.
Mbulelo Tshangana of the Department of Human Settlements said 15 towns across Limpopo, Gauteng, North West, Mpumalanga and Free State, had been earmarked as part of the revitalisation project.