Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Mining hostels are an insult to the dignity of workers, said Mamphela Ramphele on Sunday in an exclusive interview on current affairs show Interface.
The former Gold Fields boss, now heading the new political party Agang, said she had made significant changes in the lives of mineworkers while she was at the helm of the firm.
"Under my watch we pushed much harder for people to move out of hostels - which are a real insult to the dignity of people - into proper housing, whether they are bachelor flats or what have you."
"We pushed very hard for skills training," said Ramphele.
Goldfields has one of the best skills training facilities, although she noted that it has not been utilised to capacity.
She said one of the last things she did was to "promote a real systematic industry wide attack on the triple burdens of tuberculosis, HIV/Aids and silicosis".
"As we speak now, there is a process which was started, which continues to make sure that each of those companies contribute to a pool fund to deal with the consequences of that triple burden."
Ramphele dismissed the notion that the firm misused BEE legislation under her watch.
"Under my watch we instituted an independent review and that report is being finalised," she said.
The mining industry as a whole can play a key role in developing the country, according to Ramphele.
"We are talking about connecting the mining industry to the opportunities of the 21st century."
She explained that it would mean moving away from a low-skill low-wage environment into a high-skill high-wage environment.
]
Ramphele warned that it would result in fewer jobs being available on the mines, but it would also keep people from harm.
Ramphele said that opportunities should be created for workers by making land available.
She said that many mineworkers come from the Eastern Cape, which is also the richest province in terms of the soil, but it is being wasted and much of it is state owned.
"Just as we handed over four-roomed houses to people in Soweto, why can't we hand over land to people and help them develop it so that we can have food security and industrial agricultural products?" asked Ramphele.
"We have got a huge mineral resource which we are not using effectively. We have huge tracks of land that we are not using effectively. We are not simply talking about land reform."
"I am a rural girl and after we made announcements of Agang I went to the villages. I wasn't met by elites, I was met by ordinary people," she continued.
She said her party is looking to change the way politics is done and if it involves her being president then she is open to taking up the highest office in the land.
"We are going for a win in 2014."
"I am doing this for my children, for my grandchildren and I am not doing this alone."
Agang is expected to make public those individuals who are supporting the party.
Ramphele also rejected claims of her party being a Western import. She said Agang is not being funded by the US.
"We are funded by high net-worth individuals in South Africa...South African citizens who want to see change.
She said the party is also funded by South Africans in the diaspora.
"There are South Africans in America and they are funding us. There are South Africans in London - I went to see them last week - they will fund us. And there are South Africans down under in Australia - they will fund us.
"This is a young party...the party of the future," said Ramphele.
- Fin24
The former Gold Fields boss, now heading the new political party Agang, said she had made significant changes in the lives of mineworkers while she was at the helm of the firm.
"Under my watch we pushed much harder for people to move out of hostels - which are a real insult to the dignity of people - into proper housing, whether they are bachelor flats or what have you."
"We pushed very hard for skills training," said Ramphele.
Goldfields has one of the best skills training facilities, although she noted that it has not been utilised to capacity.
She said one of the last things she did was to "promote a real systematic industry wide attack on the triple burdens of tuberculosis, HIV/Aids and silicosis".
"As we speak now, there is a process which was started, which continues to make sure that each of those companies contribute to a pool fund to deal with the consequences of that triple burden."
Ramphele dismissed the notion that the firm misused BEE legislation under her watch.
"Under my watch we instituted an independent review and that report is being finalised," she said.
The mining industry as a whole can play a key role in developing the country, according to Ramphele.
"We are talking about connecting the mining industry to the opportunities of the 21st century."
She explained that it would mean moving away from a low-skill low-wage environment into a high-skill high-wage environment.
]
Ramphele warned that it would result in fewer jobs being available on the mines, but it would also keep people from harm.
Ramphele said that opportunities should be created for workers by making land available.
She said that many mineworkers come from the Eastern Cape, which is also the richest province in terms of the soil, but it is being wasted and much of it is state owned.
"Just as we handed over four-roomed houses to people in Soweto, why can't we hand over land to people and help them develop it so that we can have food security and industrial agricultural products?" asked Ramphele.
"We have got a huge mineral resource which we are not using effectively. We have huge tracks of land that we are not using effectively. We are not simply talking about land reform."
"I am a rural girl and after we made announcements of Agang I went to the villages. I wasn't met by elites, I was met by ordinary people," she continued.
She said her party is looking to change the way politics is done and if it involves her being president then she is open to taking up the highest office in the land.
"We are going for a win in 2014."
"I am doing this for my children, for my grandchildren and I am not doing this alone."
Agang is expected to make public those individuals who are supporting the party.
Ramphele also rejected claims of her party being a Western import. She said Agang is not being funded by the US.
"We are funded by high net-worth individuals in South Africa...South African citizens who want to see change.
She said the party is also funded by South Africans in the diaspora.
"There are South Africans in America and they are funding us. There are South Africans in London - I went to see them last week - they will fund us. And there are South Africans down under in Australia - they will fund us.
"This is a young party...the party of the future," said Ramphele.
- Fin24
