Renewed hope in Richtersveld

05 August 2013 - 03:30 By SABELO SKITI
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In the koppies west of Lekkersing is an old quartzite mine that is now deserted. Lekkersing, Eksteenfontein and Kuboes are the only settlements in the Richtersveld World Heritage Site.
In the koppies west of Lekkersing is an old quartzite mine that is now deserted. Lekkersing, Eksteenfontein and Kuboes are the only settlements in the Richtersveld World Heritage Site.
Image: Gallo Images / GO! / Barnie Louw

Renewed hope is being infused into the people of the ailing Northern Cape region the Richtersveld.

The communities of Kuboes, Sanddrift, Eksteenfontein and Lekkersing received 84000ha of diamond-rich land, a mine, farms and R190-million in reparations in one of this country's largest land claims six years ago.

But 18 months ago things were dire as the number of jobs at the Richtersveld Mining Company - a joint venture with state-owned Alexkor - fell from 1500 to 106.

Production dipped from 200000 carats of diamonds a year to 35000, and farms that previously turned over R5-million a year lay barren.

Now, after interventions by the government, the community has hope. The government has prioritised a turnaround strategy to boost production and create 400 jobs.

A R50-million investment has been approved, farming has been revitalised, creating 34 jobs, and the area's roads will be improved, said Deputy Public Enterprises Minister Bulelani Magwanishe.

But excitement over greener pastures and more jobs will be short-lived unless the government tackles community infighting over the alleged mismanagement of companies set up for the benefit of the local people.

The Richtersveld Communal Property Association, responsible for safekeeping the area's new riches, oversees an intricate network of trusts and companies set up as part of a deed of settlement. These are meant to have representatives from all four communities.

But the chairman and his deputy have allegedly taken directorships and top management positions. The Times was unable to contact them at the time of publication.

All of this while locals, including elderly beneficiaries, wallow in poverty, having received only R4500 since the land claim was settled.

Disgruntled community members want the Department of Public Enterprises to investigate the management structure and functioning of the trusts and companies purportedly set up for their benefit.

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