Ba-Phalaborwa communities are robbed over R3 billion a year by the branded Mafias in the name of Leolo Trust which collect profit of 10% a year from Palaborwa mining company. Last weekend there were no water at the Mashishimale community and the tour road was halted without an explanations.
Palaborwa mining company is a South African Copper mining company that has been operating since 1956. The company is the largest copper producer in the country and is a major contributor to the local economy.
It is owned by a consortium of companies and has been a major employer in the lowveld area of Limpopo Province, although currently its Palaborwa Foundationhas been hijacked by Leolo Trust in which communities are crying foul as the Trust is not helping the development of the villages around Phalaborwa.
Leolo trust was formed in 2001, by the employee of the company namely Mr Dennis Modise who is the Chief Financial Officer of the mining company and politicians in the area including Vinolia Catherine Shayi, the wife of the current Mayor of Mopani District Manucipality.
According to the trust deeds Mr Modise is the founder of the Leolo Trust. Mr Modise lured the community as Leolo Trust is a Non-Profit organization that contribute and promote economic and social
development in the Palaborwa community and surrounding areas. He continue to say “ the trust works to empower communities through education, healthcare and infrastructure development and also works to promote economic development and job creation. A community representatives alluded that the Trust is not helping any community, Palaborwa mining company was having Palaborwa foundation that build and support crèches, schools and development of the communities.
The indigeneous Community members have wrote to the majore shareholder in the company which is a chineese company to respond to their issues, although the company not yet responded but the community are not getting any water and job creation. There is a several contractors in the company.
