The timing of this week’s announcement by Australia’s Mineral Commodities (MRC) that it would sell its 56% stake of the Xolobeni Mineral Sands Project is curious: it came exactly a day before a high-powered delegation of three deputy ministers, bearing gifts of ANC T-shirts, visited the contested terrain.What a coincidence! The largely unwelcome Australians call off their invasion of the land, then immediately the ANC’s heavyweights appear — with many of the proponents of mining in tow.Deputy ministers Godfrey Oliphant (mineral resources), Pam Tshwete (water & sanitation) and Maggie Sotyu (police) swept across the Pondoland village of Xolobeni in heavy SUVs with blue lights — vehicles belonging to the state.They came to try to convince the people that they must move off the land and make way for mining because "one of our own has now bought the asset".A certain Mzwandile Maxwell Maraqana, who previously stood as a candidate for local councillor for the ANC, and then for Cope in the ...
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