Planned Elitheni protest goes ahead as municipality rejects shutdown role

The Emalahleni Black Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners Association (EBASMA) has announced a planned peaceful shutdown action at Elitheni Coal Mine on 15 April 2026, but Emalahleni Local Municipality says a meeting held on 1 April 2026 was not about closing the mine.

In a notice dated 6 April 2026, EBASMA called on community members to gather at the Elitheni Coal Mine gate at 10am on 15 April. The association said it intends handing a list of grievances to the mine’s Business Rescue Practitioners.

In the notice, EBASMA raised concerns about traditional leadership, local development, employment, labour conditions and the mine’s Social and Labour Plan. The association also stated that these issues were discussed at a meeting involving the Machubeni Traditional Council, the Guba Indwe Black Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners Association, and the Office of the Municipal Manager.

However, Emalahleni local municipality spokesperson L Nqumkana said the municipality’s role in that meeting related to a different issue.

Responding to whether the municipality attended the 1 April 2026 meeting, Nqumkana said:

“The municipality attended the meeting of the 01st April 2026, and on the meeting the municipality was invited to advise on the process to follow for the Small Scale Miners of Indwe on how to access or have ownership of the area they said they have been mining in the past. The area in question is the piece of land which belongs to the municipality, and it does not form part of the Elitheni Coal. As the Elitheni Coal Mine is at Guba village, not in Indwe.”

On whether the municipality supported or agreed with the proposed shutdown of Elitheni Coal Mine, he said:

“We were not involved in any discussions regarding the closure or any process regarding the Elitheni Coal Mine. Our invitation was specific on the Indwe land issue(area at the back of Indwe Town), the mountainous area.”

Asked about the municipality’s position on the concerns raised in the notice regarding local development, employment and community impact, Nqumkana said:

“On the mining issues the Department responsible for that is Minerals and Energy. Our advise will always to urge anyone interested on the mining sector to consult the department mandated for that and follow all required processes to be granted a permit to mine.”

On whether the municipality had engaged with the mine or affected community structures on these issues, he said:

“Our terms of engagements as outlined on the first point were around the issue of the land request which was submitted to the municipality as the area they want belongs to the municipality, which is ERF 255.”

The planned shutdown announced by EBASMA is set to take place at the Elitheni Coal Mine gate on 15 April 2026 at 10:00.

Komani News requested comment from Elitheni Coal Mine management and the Machubeni Traditional Council by the deadline of 13:00 on 7 April 2026, but no responses had been received by publication time. Their responses will be added if received.

The allegations and demands in the notice remain those of EBASMA. Komani News has not independently verified the claims contained in the notice.