Joe Di Josa's Page

What are your areas of interest in terms of social development?

Environment care

Do you volunteer in your community?

Yes

What do you want to talk about on the Kwanda forums?

I would like to talk of practical ways in which we can create a litter-free environment.

Tell us about the community where you live

Since established in the 1800, every Chaneng or Styldrift resident’s oxygen requirements were naturally met by its natural vegetation- until the latest mining development. Mission Green Earth campaign is being countered by the visible clear-out of more than 160 trees and vegetation by Anglo Platinum and Bafokeng in this naturally rich area.

Chaneng, the place of ‘Mochana’ trees, has over a century being rich with grazing and live stock farming. In 2009 the community is faced by platinum scavengers, very high external economic and social costs, including a possible permanent environmental damage.

These have further been ascertained by Bruno Seabelo, Head of Legal and Corporate Affairs of Royal Bafokeng Administration.
“It was a mistake of the mine (BRPM) to even compensate the Robega Community”, said Bruno in rejecting the Chaneng community’s demand for compensation for inconvenience and environmental impact.

Seabelo who presided over the once controversial RBN Trust Fund in 2008 Bafokeng Kgotha-kgothe, is now a cause for concern to the Chaneng community.

At a community meeting held until 7:15 in the evening on 06 May 2009, Bachana’s concerns showed to be at a boiling point as they expressed intensions to halt the Styldrift Project operations. “To stop the project requires mass action” as a community member endorsed this general view.

Their main concerns, among others, include:

► Protection or fencing of archeological site
► Loss of vegetation, grazing and farming land.
► Vague promises of employment and business opportunities
► Untruthful and insensitive negotiators and consultants presiding over the project.
► A life-time negative impact on the ecosystem, grazing and farming land.
► Inclusion in the shareholding of the project and establishment of the Community trust fund.
► Not being adequately consulted for any decision making on the community needs by Royal Bafokeng Administration and by the Styldrift project managers.
► Increased costs on building houses related to a new way of constructing a building foundation.

An unidentified old granny who has been staying in Chaneng for more than 80 years mentioned that “in the olden days they use to build with red clay bricks and a lot of people grew in those houses. Those houses never cracked that they could fall and living in the said [mining] conditions will be costly and dangerous”.

What do you want to learn from the members of the Kwanda social network?

I want to learn practical ways in which we can protect the environment from rich and big companies who pollute and communities can not recognise it as a result of a lack of technical knowledge.

What stories do you want to share with the members of the Kwanda social network?

Community challenges which got resolution or rejection. plans to establish " The Garden of Eden Fund"

Do you have access to skills, knowledge & networks through your paid or volunteer work?

Yes