ActionSA calls on Mpumalanga premier for transparency and action regarding trio trapped at Lily Mine
While ActionSA welcomes the provincial government's recent update that confirmed an estimated R18m budget and the involvement of the new investor, we express frustration over the long delays and previous exclusion from meaningful consultation.
Our numerous efforts, including through our members of parliament and members of the Mpumalanga legislature, have either been ignored or given the runaround. It is critical that government transparency be coupled with urgency in recovering the remains safely and swiftly.
In our letter to Premier Ndlovu, ActionSA emphasised the need for collaboration, but warned that the party will continue to pursue its parallel initiative to engage experienced mine rescue companies to prepare bids for the retrieval operation.
The families and communities impacted by this tragedy have waited long enough, almost 10 years. We will therefore not be sidelined or misled any longer by the government.
ActionSA calls on the Mpumalanga Provincial Government to show goodwill and collaborate with us in establishing a clear and open recovery plan that respects the dignity of the victims of this tragedy, as well as their families and community.
Herman Mashaba
ActionSA President
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ActionSA is holding the ANC-led government accountable for the failure of the Boipatong Old Age Home project in Emfuleni, where R28 million has been wasted on a stalled construction that has yet to benefit the elderly. Image: Supplied ActionSA in Emfuleni is outraged by the state of the Boipatong Old Age Home, where R28 million has already been spent, yet construction has not progressed, and no elderly residents are benefiting from the stalled project. The project, launched by the Emfuleni Local Municipality in 2015, has been plagued by delays, from contractor failures and poor administration to community unrest. Most shocking of all, planning came to a halt nearly a decade later after the late discovery of a gas pipeline beneath the site. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The Department of Infrastructure Development (DID) has now promised that the Boipatong Old Age Home project could be completed by the end of 2026, but only if all conditions are favourable. 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They need to be shown how they're being used. If they don't vote out the corrupt leaders, there's no future; South Africa will end up worse than Zimbabwe. My heart bleeds.' 'Not one project completed in more than 30 years of ruling. Only corruption and stealing to line their own pockets,' said Lettie Hattingh Kriel. Vivienne Haddad Kirkbride echoed these feelings, expressing disbelief that those involved in the project show no shame. She said, "I would never live with myself if I took even a teaspoon that didn't belong to me…We're not all cut from the same cloth." Theo Nkonki, spokesperson for Gauteng MEC Jacob Mamabolo, told The Star that the government is taking strong steps to ensure the Boipatong Old Age Home is finished by 2026: 'We have launched a detailed planning process that includes updated technical studies, revised project scopes, and active engagement with key stakeholders like SASOL.' Nkonki added that safety considerations and redesign efforts are underway, and new contracts will include penalties to hold contractors accountable. When asked why the gas pipeline wasn't detected during the early planning phases, Nkonki explained that the pipeline was only identified during a more thorough review after the department took over the project. 'The SASOL gas pipeline next to the construction site was uncovered during a comprehensive technical assessment that had not been done in the earlier stages. 'The lack of coordinated planning and inadequate initial evaluations contributed to the oversight. We are now in consultation with SASOL to reassess the project's feasibility and prioritise public safety,' he said. The Star
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