The Community’s so-called D-account is used for mining companies to deposit royalties owed to the community for mining on their ancestral land. According to Mkhwabane’s spokesperson, Oupa Segalwe, the community had approached the former Public Protector complaining that they were not benefiting from the royalties that they were supposed to be receiving from mining companies doing business in the area. 

Segalwe says the Public Protector, earlier today, provided the community with an update as to what caused the delay in the release of the report by the former Public Protector and assured the community that she is finalising the investigations and a report is soon to be released.  

Segalwe says implicated parties to whom payments were made from the community’s account are to be given an opportunity to respond to the provincial findings. He says this will be done this week and the implicated individuals will be given up to 14 days to respond.

The account is reported to have accumulated more than R6 million but currently has less than R1 million.

Segalwe says although the community’s mining royalties are suspected to have been looted systematically, the investigation also includes the alleged misuse of resources relating to the construction of Chief Kgosi Edward Mogale's palace, as well as the misuse of these royalties.  

Segalwe says they are hopeful that the Office of the Public Protector would have issued the report by the end of April.

OFM News/Katleho Morapela