The Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Mr Gwede Mantashe, has called on the community of Richards Bay to safeguard and protect their investment company during an engagement with members of the top echelons of Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) today in Umhlathuze Municipality.

Minister Mantashe met with RBM management to pay homage, following the cold-blooded murder of Mr Nico Swart who was one of the company’s most senior managers. Mantashe joined the chorus of condemnation of the criminal incidents which are negatively affecting mining operations in the Richards Bay town.

The high-level engagement with RBM management was Chaired by KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala and featured Rio Tinto Managing Director Stephane Leblanc, MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Neliswa Peggy Nkonyeni, MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Ravi Pillay and uMhlathuze Municipality Mayor Mduduzi Mhlongo.

“Richards Bay Minerals is a very important company, not only for KwaZulu-Natal but in the context of mining nationally. A criminal activity is not a mining activity – once you commit a crime you then create a crime scene, and the police must take over. Richards Bay Minerals is an important stakeholder in KZN with regards to investments and its continued existence is dependent on what we do to preserve Richards Bay as a prime investment area. People in Richards Bay must protect RBM as their asset. We are here to pay our courtesy visit after the death of an RBM executive, we are here to pay homage and we recommit to working with you. The safety and security issues affecting Richards Bay is not only a threat to the province but the country,” said Minister Mantashe.

Mantashe commended the KZN Government for their ongoing efforts to create peace and stability in the area.

The Government delegation also received news that the law enforcement agencies have prioritized the criminal and murder cases. The case dockets have been consolidated and are with a team of dedicated investigators and combat teams. The investigations are at an advanced stage and police will work closer with RBM to get to the root cause of the criminal elements in the area.

Premier Sihle Zikalala assured all stakeholders that government teams will continue to remain in the area to facilitate stability and attend to all stakeholder concerns. This will include working closer with RBM in facilitating expansion prospects.

Rio Tinto Managing Director Stephane Leblanc thanked Government for the continued support and interventions to address the complex issues affecting the company’s operations.

“For us the safety and security of our employees is paramount. We have been working hard to reduce the risk to our employees to ensure that they work safely. We would like to closely work with you (government) to find a way to ensure that those that are behind these murders are brought to book,” said Leblanch.

ENDS

For more information contact KZN Provincial Government Spokesperson Lennox Mabaso on 0828842403 or Minister Mantashe’s Spokesperson Natie Shabangu 0738521922 or Gugu Sisilana on 0828893474