New diamond mine stirs up storm

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…DCEO investigates possible corruption

mollempesi

The tug-of-war over mining leases has cast a shadow over the new diamond mine in Nqechane village in Leribe District.

The dispute concerns the Batho Pele mine, where the company allegedly conducted a feasibility studyIsBetween 2015 and 2020, mining operations in the area were intercepted by Sterlek Mining, which allegedly“Fraudulently”getonemining The permit was issued by the now suspended Mines Commissioner Phello Tjatja.

Essentially, the dispute boils down to a serious allegation by Batho Pele that Sterlek Mining paid bribes to obtain mining rights in an area it had explored and owned rights to.

The dispute was so serious thatgetNatural Resources Minister Mohlomi Moleko and the Council’s concerns Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEO)NowinvestigationThere were allegations of malfeasance throughout the transaction.

The Batho Pele mine was registered in 2013 and an exploration license was applied for in the same year.

Batho Pele Executive Director and Founder Tṧolo Mosoeunyane exclusively tellslesotho times They were granted a two-year exploration license (from 2015 to 2017) in May 2015. Their license expired in September 2017 and they applied for an extension.

“We got an extension around 2018 and continued our work,” Mr Mosoeunyane said.

Mr Mosoenyane also said they had reappliedthisThe company will be licensed in 2021, with its initial license expiring in 2020,At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said the Batho Pele mine was in partnership with South African investor Jabulisa Kenneth Mahlangu. However, Mr Mahlangu, a member of Batho Pele since November 2013, allegedly left Batho Pele in January 2022 and formed Sterlek. Sterlek has now “illegally” obtained a mining lease for the same land that Batho Pele had spent millions exploring.

According to company registration records, Mr Mahlangu and his Sterlek founding partners, Lebohang Ramakhula and Mpho Sebeka, transferred their shares to Teleko Felix Mohloboli, Thoolo Salathiel Sheea, Monaheng Diaho and Teboho Stephen Thakholi in February this year. Mr Thakholi is said to be the current executive director of Sterlek but could not be reached for comment as his mobile phone was not accessible.

Despite the exploration cost of more than 27 million Maharashtra,People-orientedapplicationMining LeaseInstead, mining licensesCThe project was awarded to Sterlek Mining, but the company did notTakenAn Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required, Mr Mosoeunyane said.He claimed Batho Pele’s documents were stolen and given to Sterlek Mining to enable it to obtain a license.

DCEO Chief Investigator Thabiso Thibelilesotho times It is said that the case may involve corruption and an investigation is currently underway.

Mr Moleko also confirmed that the matter is under investigation, as did the Secretary General of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Relebohile Lebeta.“Frequent assistance”Deputy Chief Executive Officer.

Despite the ongoing investigation, Stryk Mining began mining operations two weeks ago and reportedly has unearthed diamonds.

Mr Mosoeunyane accused Mr Tjatja of unethical means in awarding the mining lease to Sterlek Mining. When contacted for comment, Mr Tjatja declined to comment.explainHe is notNowIn the office.

Mr. MosuenyaneAlleging that Mr Tjatja had illegally awarded the mining licence to Sterlek, while Batho Pele had already applied for a lease and completed exploration work,DidEnvironmental impact assessment and all geological tasks required before issuing a permit.

“It is surprising that Sterlek, who has never gone through all of the above procedures, was awardedthisMr Tjatja pretended to help us with the application process but he secretly used Batho Pele’s documents to apply for a mining licence for Sterlek,” said Mr Mosoeunyane.

He added: “I thought it was a sign of corruption. I reported it to the DCEO after being transferred by the Ministry of Natural Resources. Mr Tjatja pretended to help us get a mining licence but he was busy plotting to award a lease to Sterlek Mining.

“While we were still discussing with Commissioner Tjatja, he was preparing documents for Sterlek founder Mahlangu, our previous partner. They had registered a company called Sterlek Mining and applied for a mining lease using our documents (geological reports, environmental impact assessment reports and other studies) because Mahlangu, as our previous partner, had access to them.”

Mr Mosoenyane explained that the Batho Pele mine was finalising some details and was ready to start operations, but the country was set to hold elections in 2022, delaying the mine’s construction progress.

“In March 2022, we went to the commissioner’s office and told him that we were finalising some details and would be operational soon. This was when Prime Minister Sam Mateche was launching his party. We told the commissioner that we were ready to move forward after the election, but we were unaware that he had already issued a licence to Stryker.

“The then-Mines Minister Serialong Qoo was unwilling to sign the lease for Sterlek. He gave them the license without signing it, probably hoping that he would sign it when he returned to government, but he did not return.

“After the election, in January 2023, we went to the office of the Minister of Natural Resources. We told him that we had drawn up the documents and he said he didn’t mind giving us the license.Ce; We just need to open a joint bank account and provide bank statements. It is difficult for us to open a bank account because they need a license and other documents, but First National Bank temporarily opened it for three months. After that, we should provide the license. ”

Mr Mosoeunyane continued: “After I opened the account in February last year, I received a call from Councillor Nqechane and some chiefs. They told me that someone from a company called Sterlek had come with a licence.CAnd said they were going to mine there. I went there and confirmed that it was true – they had a licenseCe. I immediately went to the Ministry of Mines and confronted Mr Tjatja about Sterlek’s licence. He did not deny the allegations.”

“He (Mr Tjatja) said he gave them the licenceCBecause he was told that they are still working with us. He suggested that I write a formal letter with all the details so that he can revoke the licenseCAnd give it to us.”

Mr Mosoeunyane explained that he had written to the Minister of Natural Resources who had been trying to assist him.

“I wrote to the office of the Minister of Natural Resources; I also wrote to their legal department. When I contacted Mr Tjatja later, he was no longer friendly, so I decided to take it up with the minister. The minister has been trying to help me. The Minerals Council even informed him of what was going on, and it was revealed that Sterlek had been given a licence.CFor example, through bribery.

“The community is not happy with Sterlek. They know the company must first meet with the community and do an environmental impact assessment, but Sterlek did nothing; they just came with a permit.Ce. Sterlek Mining said they paid Maharashtra Rs. 500,000 for the licenseCe. The Minerals Council has just decided to award a lease to another company, ignoring the Mines and Minerals Act 2005, which states that sites that have already been explored cannot be explored again. The Act also states that if the Ministry of Mines no longer wants to work with a company, it should make the site public instead of awarding a licence to another company.CEgyptOn top.

“Our mining lease application is still pending and we have not received any response. Our equipment is placed on someone else’s field and we are deeply in debt. The Ministry of Mines has not responded to us. People are being granted licences.CWe had already explored the area, but nothing had been done. Worst of all, the documents Sterlek used to obtain the permitC“This is ours. They falsified our geological reports. I went to the DCEO and asked them to intervene because I realised there was a lot of corruption.”

Mr. MosoeunyaneassistanceAs the DCEO began to work on the matter, he was also considering filing a lawsuit to prevent Sterlek Mining from continuing to operate until the investigation was completed.

“The DCEO is dealing with this issue. They found that some of our documents were discarded and the names of those responsible are known. These people are currently being questioned by the DCEO. Many people may be arrested soon in connection with this issue. Sterlek Mining started operations last week; I am considering filing an emergency application because the ministry does not seem willing to stop them. So far, we have lost more than 27 million riyals because exploration is an expensive process. We have lost a lot of money. I don’t understand why Mr. Moleko does not stop the operations of the mine; he could have stopped it a long time ago. Now he says he is waiting for the report from the DCEO before he can continue,” he said.

Mr Moleko confirmed that the DCEO was investigating the matter while the ministry was conducting an internal audit to ascertain the truth.

“The matter is under investigation by the DCEO and our internal audit team. Mr Mosoeunyane wants things to proceed at his own pace but we don’t. We have to investigate the facts first. These issues are indeed before the DCEO. They have their investigation and we have ours. I cannot ignore such serious issues but we have to gather evidence first and then act. The PS has been meeting with the DCEO this week to discuss the issue,” Mr Moleko said.

The DCEO said it had recently met with Mr. Lebeta, who was tasked with collecting full details of how Sterlek Mining obtained the license.

“We held a meeting with the PS of the Ministry of Natural Resources and asked her to consult the Mining Commission to provide us with the full details of what happened.

“It is unusual for an application from a company that has completed exploration and put in all the necessary effort to be ignored while another company is awarded a lease. The PS has admitted that a mistake was made and we have instructed her to investigate how Sterlek obtained the permit.Cand who was responsible for issuing the notice. The committee will help uncover the truth,” Mr Thibeli said.