Leader of JMMF, Surprise Xhwantini, tells OFM News they will be meeting with their legal counsel before the end of the week to determine a way forward in their fight against diamond recovery mine, Jagersfontein Developments (JDP).

On Thursday, February 21, the Free State High Court ruled in favour of the mine, finalising an interdict granted to JDP on 13 December 2018 by Judge Philip Jacobus Loubser, prohibiting the community leaders and the municipality from trying to prevent repair work that the mine wanted to be done to the water infrastructure belonging to the company. This infrastructure was allegedly damaged by both the respondents on December 5, 2018. Xhwantini says their newly obtained legal counsel had requested a second postponement of the matter, because they only managed to raise funds for the court case very late. The request was denied and the interdict finalised. Xhwantini says they will not give up.

Kopanong and the Jagersfontein community-run group rallied together to try and get JDP management to come to the table regarding the lack of development and poverty in the area despite the mine’s existence. Together, they cut water supply to the mine, destroying some of the water infrastructure in an effort to grab the mine’s attention. OFM News is in possession of documents that indicate that the community is entitled to 10% of the mine’s earnings, which are being controlled by the Itumeleng Community Trust (ICT) established in 2011. Xhwantini argues that the community has not seen a cent of this 10%.

The Itumeleng Community Trust (ICT) is yet to respond to OFM News’ questions on the matter. The trust’s Manager, Gillian Vermaak has in a previous email to OFM News accused JMMF of tarnishing the mine and the trust’s name. Vermaak detailed the ICT’s engagements with the leader of JMMF, stating: “Mr Xhwantini was employed from May 2012 to October 2012 by the ICT. He was dismissed after a labour hearing. Mr Xhwantini’s son was successfully awarded a university scholarship to assist with his studies during 2014. There have been a number of requests from Mr Xhwantini requesting assistance from the ICT for various projects and business ventures. These have been declined due to falling outside the ICT mandate as a PBO. He was cordially informed of the reasons for these decisions by the ICT office". Xhwantini has acknowledged some of the allegations are true, but maintains the Jagersfontein community at large remains undeveloped. 

The financially strained Kopanong Local Municipality, on the other end, is yet to comment on the matter. It has been revealed the municipality is facing its own issues, after all the employees did not receive their February salaries.

OFM News