PP Gemstones accuses Assmang of doing illegal mining activities

Mining company PP Gemstones has accused Assmang, a prominent mining company jointly owned by Patrice Motsepe’s African Rainbow Minerals, of carrying out illegal mining activities.

This as the ongoing dispute involving a rare and valuable gemstone known as sugilite continues.

PP Gemstone says it’s in possession of a permit to mine the rare earth mineral and says sugilite reserves at the disputed mine are worth billions of rand.

The company says their concerns to government have fallen on deaf ears.

Assmang has refuted the claim.

PP Genstones CEO Pitso Matebese says, “This has resulted in a developing country suffering unjust and justice not served. Unfortunately, all our efforts are in vain, to date, and we have not received any positive response from the minister. We’ve went from the minister to Public Protector’s office to seek justice. We have even further went to the portfolio committee at Parliament requesting the assistant … so, to date we have not received any tangible result in respect of this kind of matter.”