Some members of the Marula Community Trust in Ga-Kgoete, outside Burgersfort in Limpopo have raised concern about the recent election of trustees.
They are alleging that the process was unfair, regulations were flouted and that some elected members have criminal records.
The trustees are responsible for managing the trust’s funds from Marula Platinum mine which are used for community development.
The elections were held earlier this month to elect seven trust members representing various villages.
Community members are calling for an elections re-run. Community member, Pheladi Nkoana explains: “We are calling for a rerun of the elections, and that everything be done accordingly and within the prescripts of the law, so that we can be satisfied as a community. We should not elect people with previous criminal records as per the laws that governs community trusts. We fear as a community that our property will not be safe in the hands of such people.”
The Marula Platinum Mine has conceded that none of the elected candidates were vetted.
The mine says that its vetting company informed it a few days before the elections that the results would only be available in six weeks.
The mine says all elected trustees who are found to have criminal records when the results come back will be removed.
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