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COSATU Northern Cape urges parties to sugilite dispute to resolve their differences and government to speak up on the matter

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in the Northern Cape has noted with concern the developments in what has become a serious quagmire that concerns mining of precious stones known as sugilite and the illegal trade thereof.

In October last year, the Federation together with the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) met the management of Assmang mine near Kuruman in the Northern Cape in an attempt to resolve the grievances raised by the communities in Kuruman and surrounding areas. Among the concerns raised was the illegal trade in Sugilite which involved Assmang management at Blackrock Mine and reports that, this company has been illegally involved in exporting these precious stones internationally.

According to reports, an illegal shipment of illicit gemstones allegedly from a mine co-owned by one of Patrice Motsepe’s companies, was stopped by South African Revenue Service (SARS) from departing OR Tambo International Airport for Hong Kong and China last year. The contraband, which was being smuggled out of the country by an Asian man, was intercepted by officials of SARS’ customs department after they received a tip-off from whistleblowers.

Our meeting of October 2024 could not help in terms of expediting the arrests but opened discussions pertaining to legalising mining and trading of sugilite and ensuring that, the process helps to alleviate poverty by creating employment opportunities in the Kuruman mining area and its surroundings.

A few weeks after the meeting, we received reports that, another case of this nature was reported in Vryburg, North West Province where similar cargo was confiscated.

According to the reports, a self-confessed trader, stated that he “received and transacted” the sugilite from the management of Blackrock Mine, also known as Assmang and had on multiple occasions exported and/or attempted to export the sugilite gemstones, blue and purple, using Air Menzies International Freight Forwarding Services and other freight forwarding services.

COSATU is dismayed and worried about the silence of SARS, DMRE, SAPS and leadership of government in this matter.

The government and institutions of law enforcement cannot be silent when the minerals of this country are smuggled out and revenue is lost through illicit trade.

There are no arrests, no prosecutions nor any sign of willingness to help address this unfortunate situation and therefore COSATU Northern Cape appeals to authorities to attend to this matter before it is too late.

Issued by COSATU Northern Cape

For more information, please contact:

Orapeleng Moraladi (COSATU Northern Cape Provincial Secretary)

Tel: 078 452 6891 / 053 832 9090