The visit followed the study earlier this year on Platinum Mining in the North West Province, and is part of an ongoing monitoring process during which Bench Marks is conducting research into Platinum Mining and its effects on the community. The delegation was led by the Right Reverend Jo Seoka, Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Pretoria and the Chairperson of the Bench Marks Foundation.

Amongst those in the delegation was the MP from the area, Bishop Lekoba Jack Tolo, the General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches in the Limpopo Province, Revd Pataki Mautji and Sejanamane Mashilo, Programme Manager of the Council, Brown Motsau, Programme Manager for the Foundation and Eric Mokoua, Rustenburg Coordinator for the Foundation. They were accompanied by Mr Jerry Tshehlakgolo, Chairperson of the Dilokong Regional Development Forum. The visit began with a briefing from Chief Isaac Kgwete.

Commenting on the visit, Bishop Seoka said that the delegation thought it was unfortunate that in the new democracy, the bad history of the apartheid years, "which we thought we had left, continues to repeat itself in the areas in which the most defenceless members of our population live."

Bishop Seoka highlighted the following matters of concern that had been noted by the delegation:

• Open raw sewerage was flowing freely into the catchment area of one the large rivers, the Motse, where people washed, and could quite possibly be drinking this water. Livestock is also drinking from it.
• The delegation saw ventilation shafts which spewed a smelly gaseous odour into the air.
• The delegation also viewed an explosives magazine which was, at best, rudimentarily guarded.
• At least one large slimes dam in the area, apart from being an eyesore, caused coughing and breathing problems, according to members of the community to whom the delegation spoke.
• Together with the dangerous activities mentioned below, such pollution creates direct health hazards
• The forced removal of people from their homes, to make way for mining activities, resulted in land being left barren and completely unsuitable for farming.
• Similarly, on land vacated by the mines themselves, dangerous hazards were still present, such as open holes in the ground. "These places are in the midst of communities and such hazards are a direct threat to children who may, quite innocently, play in the area," he said.
• Blasting from the mines cause cracks in houses, and there was at least one incident reported in which a person had died as a result of blasting at Driekop.
• The delegation viewed with concern the presence of security forces, reportedly from countries in Central Africa. "The sheer nature of their presence," said Bishop Seoka, "has created a climate of intimidation amongst members of the community to whom we spoke. It is remarkable that this is the case in our country. This was underlined by members of our delegation telling us that when we left, they would experience further intimidation. It appears that in the face of the presence of these security forces, the South African Police Services is helpless, and there are reports that there is collaboration between SAPS and the mining houses."

First it would continue its ongoing consultations with the mining houses, started after its exhaustive report into platinum mining conditions in the North West Province.

Second it would write to the Minister of Mineral and Energy Affairs, Ms Buyelwa Sonjica, to express its concern as well as seek to make a presentation to the Mineral and Energy Portfolio Committee of Parliament, as soon as possible.

Thirdly, it would make representation to the Human Rights Commission, since it believed that individual and communal rights were being exploited.

"Finally, it is clear that members of the community do not fully understand their rights. Bench Marks will investigate how best to assist in providing education about the rights of communities in the face of an era in which big business, seemingly supported by influential political figures, can lay claim to land without consultation," Bishop Seoka said.