JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) - The development of a new integrated human settlement, with all related municipal services, in Marikana, was set to kick off in June 2014, after platinum miner Lonmin on Tuesday donated 50 ha of serviced land for housing.

A “landmark” deal between Lonmin and the North West provincial Department of Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison and the Rustenburg local municipality would stimulate public–private sector collaboration for the development of high- and low-density residential housing in the region.

Lonmin further committed to contribute R500-million over the next five years to employee accommodation and community bulk services, Lonmin CEO Ben Magara, who took the reins at Lonmin on July 1 this year, said.

This comes more than a year after Lonmin’s Marikana mine erupted into violent labour unrest that culminated in the deaths of 46 people.

Thirty-four striking workers were killed in a clash with police on August 16 last year, after ten people, including two policemen, two security guards and three National Union of Mineworkers shop stewards, were killed in violent clashes earlier that week.

The deadly events resulted in a closer industry- and government-wide look at the state of the South African mining industry and spurred discussions and arguments on how to build a better, more inclusive and sustainable industry.

The incident had also influenced the Department of Human Settlements’ decision to commit almost R400-million, of a R1.6-billion development grant aimed at improving living conditions across the country’s mining towns, to four mining towns around the North West’s platinum belt, namely Brits, Rustenburg, Moses Kotane and Marikana.

“This deal will help address the critical shortage of appropriate and affordable accommodation in the area and fulfil our core constitutional mandate of delivering adequate housing and basic services to communities living within the Greater Rustenburg municipal area,” Human Settlements Minister Connie September said.