Aurora: 'Arrest Mandela, Zuma'

Johannesburg - The regulatory woes of embattled gold mining firm Aurora Empowerment Systems are rising to parallel its financial challenges.

The labour department has concluded its investigations into Aurora’s alleged non-payment of Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) contributions.

Lesiba Seshoka, spokesperson for National Union of Mineworkers, says the directors of Aurora should be arrested for not paying UIF.

“We suspect directors Zondwa Mandela (Nelson Mandela’s grandson) and Khulubuse Zuma (Jacob Zuma’s nephew) are receiving preferential treatment because of their political clout. The law must take its course.”

This latest blow comes after a report by the environmental crime investigators, the Blue Scorpions – a unit in the water affairs department.

Blue Scorpions director for compliance, monitoring and enforcement Nigel Adams says the legal action the unit is pursuing, regarding non-compliance with the quality of discharge water as per Aurora’s licence, carries a five-year prison term or a hefty fine for the directors.

“The case is now in the hands of the National Prosecuting Authority,” says Adams.

Aurora was alleged to have allowed unpurified water containing heavy metals and salts to be discharged from its Grootvlei mine into the Blesbokspruit river.

Meanwhile, employees at Aurora remain uncertain about their future following the mine’s failure to pay salaries.

Seshoka adds that workers had been promised they would be paid their salaries at the beginning of this month but this did not happen.

He says Grootvlei’s insurer, Rand Mutual, has cancelled Aurora’s policy due to non-payment. This leaves miners vulnerable in the event of an accident.

Aurora commercial director Thulane Ngubane referred all queries to the firm’s lawyer, Michael Hulley.

Hulley could not be reached for comment at the time of going to print.

- City Press

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