Anglo Platinum has a registered lease over the land in question; it has paid the community double the value of the land and has further compensated individual community members for loss of livelihood for a 10 year period.

Anglo Platinum started negotiating with the community of Sekuruwe in early 2006 for use of a portion of the farm Blinkwater to establish a tailings dam. The company was only interested in leasing about 350 – 400 hectares of a 790 hectare farm portion. The community did not want to split the land and requested that Anglo Platinum lease the entire 790 hectares.

The land was valued by the community’s own independent assessor at R1.7 million. Anglo Platinum found alternative land to give to the community and the only available land for purchase was valued at R3.5 million. This land was rejected by the community as they wanted to have the cash – the company thus paid the community an amount of R3.5 million in compensation for land which was valued by the community expert assessor at R1.7 million.

In addition to paying the community for the land the company paid compensation to those community members who had land rights use and access to this land. These families were paid a total of R4.6 million for loss of livelihoods for a 10 year period.

Mr. James Shiburi who is identified in the Jubilee Press statement as the person to contact for further information was one of the individuals who received the personal compensation for loss of livelihood.

In summary this is what was paid to the community and impacted individuals in Sekuruwe:

• R3.5 million paid in March 2008 into a Trust account earning interest for the community (to pay for compensation of leased area)
• R4.6 million paid to eligible community members who had land rights use and access to the leased area ( to compensate for loss of livelihoods for 10 years)
• Annual rental of R194 000 – with 5 years paid upfront as per the request of the community (R970 845.00)
• Total financial compensation of over R8 million.

Of significant importance is that the Mapela Tribal Authority, under whose jurisdiction the Sekuruwe community is, retains the first right of refusal to enter into a tailings retreatment project on the said tailings dam, a project that could potentially generate a substantial income stream for the community in years to come.

I am sure that you are aware that all disputes arising from the Blinkwater lease have been tested in court and dismissed. The court applications were brought by individuals who were part of the community agreements and who had also accepted and received their direct loss of livelihoods compensation.

Over and above what was concluded on the value of the land, Anglo Platinum also agreed to do the following:

• Assist the community with additional pumping and storage of water for the community (project completed)
• In partnership with the Department of Health and Welfare establish a clinic in the community (financial payments will be made as the Department feels that there is not the critical mass to support a clinic and one is available within a reasonable travelling distance)
• Source at least 30% of the labour to be utilized on the new tailings dam and the expansion project from the local communities.

Anglo Platinum has a valid lease for the Blinkwater farm. The area was prepared for operations and drilling commenced on the 17th of November and was completed on the 23 of November. As far as we were aware there was no ploughing taking place during this period while the land was being prepared for the tailings dam building activity. Work on this area recommenced during the week of the 1st of December after it was disrupted by some community members.

On the issue of community consent, as stated above, Anglo Platinum has a registered lease over the Blinkwater farm, individual families were compensated for loss of livelihood and the community was compensated for the land at double what the assessed value. We have had numerous engagements with the community and have explained the process that led to the lease agreements, they were informed of the compensation paid and were also given copies of the lease agreements to review.

Community members who were arrested last year were arrested when they clashed with the police during the grave relocation process. Consent for the exhumation of the graves was granted by each of the next of kin as the graves do not belong to the community but to individual families.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Mary-Jane Morifi
011 3736325