- As Liquidator disposes of BCL properties including houses
Former employees of BCL mine have been left with an egg on the face after Parliament rejected their request to be prioritised when the mine liquidator sells the mine houses.
Leader of Opposition, who is also Member of Parliament for Selibe-Phikwe West Dithapelo Keorapetse had moved a motion in Parliament on Tuesday this week that Parliament requests government to immediately negotiate with the liquidator on behalf of former BCL employees for a special targeted programme of subsidised purchase of BCL houses including but not limited to rent-to-buy method or for a programme with aspects of turn-key and or SHHA or any other social welfare housing schemes to enable them to continue living in these houses and to prevent impending homelessness.
The motion which was brought on urgency was rejected by Parliament. In 2016 when BCL was placed under liquidation following a cabinet decision, former employees were paid one-month salary and leave days for those who had leave days.
Presenting the motion in Parliament, Keorapetse said on the 26th April 2023 the Liquidator announced the Sale of BCL Limited’s Residential Properties situated in Selebi Phikwe. He stated that some former BCL employees occupying the said houses have received letters from the Liquidator giving them first preference and a period of three months until August to indicate their willingness and financial capacity to buy these properties.
The leader of opposition indicated that occupants of the properties are to vacate the houses in September if they fail to buy. “On Thursday 15th June 2023 I convened a public meeting of former BCL workers. This was after meeting Selebi Phikwe West residents at the Kagiso Kgotla and following interactions with some at their homes and meetings with the Phikwe Umbrella Ward Development Committee, Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU) and other local groups.
“At the said public meeting, former BCL workers were unequivocal that I write to your good office as their representative to express their desire to be met and addressed by Your Excellency in a public forum,” Keorapetse said. He told Parliament that at the meeting, it was clear to them that the offer made by the Liquidator is prohibitively exorbitant for former BCL employees. Former BCL workers have been domiciled in these houses prior to the collapse of the mine as a benefit extended by the employer and post liquidation with government supporting their continued occupation of the same, he said.
Keorapetse stated that their continued occupation of the houses has prevented what would have otherwise become a catastrophe of the town becoming desolate and or prevented vandalism of the properties. Keorapetse added that in 2016 BCL closed abruptly leading to joblessness, poverty and other problems which affected thousands of people.
"So, the reality is that unless a special dispensation is put in place immediately over the sale of BCL houses, these people who have worked so hard for the mine for many years and are now without the means to buy these houses in a normal free market system, will lose out badly and many will be rendered homeless.
“I am satisfied that this matter is urgent and that there is need to come up with a very special dispensation to enable former BCL workers to buy these properties at highly-subsidised rates and in a special dispensation.” The legislator pointed out that it has also been discussed at the public meeting and other occasions that the government must shoulder the environmental responsibility to remove, handle and responsibly dispose of the hazardous asbestos waste being roofs of most BCL and other buildings.
“The liquidation process has been ongoing for nearly seven years, bringing the total amount disbursed from the Consolidated Fund towards liquidation activities to P1, 862, 140, 412. 80 as at December 2022.
“The Liquidator had entered into and has closed transactions with the Premium Nickel Resources entities for the sale of the Selebi Mines (Selebi and Selebi North shafts) and Selkirk Mine in Tati in 2022,” Keorapetse said.
Leader of Opposition, who is also Member of Parliament for Selibe-Phikwe West Dithapelo Keorapetse had moved a motion in Parliament on Tuesday this week that Parliament requests government to immediately negotiate with the liquidator on behalf of former BCL employees for a special targeted programme of subsidised purchase of BCL houses including but not limited to rent-to-buy method or for a programme with aspects of turn-key and or SHHA or any other social welfare housing schemes to enable them to continue living in these houses and to prevent impending homelessness.
The motion which was brought on urgency was rejected by Parliament. In 2016 when BCL was placed under liquidation following a cabinet decision, former employees were paid one-month salary and leave days for those who had leave days.
Presenting the motion in Parliament, Keorapetse said on the 26th April 2023 the Liquidator announced the Sale of BCL Limited’s Residential Properties situated in Selebi Phikwe. He stated that some former BCL employees occupying the said houses have received letters from the Liquidator giving them first preference and a period of three months until August to indicate their willingness and financial capacity to buy these properties.
The leader of opposition indicated that occupants of the properties are to vacate the houses in September if they fail to buy. “On Thursday 15th June 2023 I convened a public meeting of former BCL workers. This was after meeting Selebi Phikwe West residents at the Kagiso Kgotla and following interactions with some at their homes and meetings with the Phikwe Umbrella Ward Development Committee, Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU) and other local groups.
“At the said public meeting, former BCL workers were unequivocal that I write to your good office as their representative to express their desire to be met and addressed by Your Excellency in a public forum,” Keorapetse said. He told Parliament that at the meeting, it was clear to them that the offer made by the Liquidator is prohibitively exorbitant for former BCL employees. Former BCL workers have been domiciled in these houses prior to the collapse of the mine as a benefit extended by the employer and post liquidation with government supporting their continued occupation of the same, he said.
Keorapetse stated that their continued occupation of the houses has prevented what would have otherwise become a catastrophe of the town becoming desolate and or prevented vandalism of the properties. Keorapetse added that in 2016 BCL closed abruptly leading to joblessness, poverty and other problems which affected thousands of people.
"So, the reality is that unless a special dispensation is put in place immediately over the sale of BCL houses, these people who have worked so hard for the mine for many years and are now without the means to buy these houses in a normal free market system, will lose out badly and many will be rendered homeless.
“I am satisfied that this matter is urgent and that there is need to come up with a very special dispensation to enable former BCL workers to buy these properties at highly-subsidised rates and in a special dispensation.” The legislator pointed out that it has also been discussed at the public meeting and other occasions that the government must shoulder the environmental responsibility to remove, handle and responsibly dispose of the hazardous asbestos waste being roofs of most BCL and other buildings.
“The liquidation process has been ongoing for nearly seven years, bringing the total amount disbursed from the Consolidated Fund towards liquidation activities to P1, 862, 140, 412. 80 as at December 2022.
“The Liquidator had entered into and has closed transactions with the Premium Nickel Resources entities for the sale of the Selebi Mines (Selebi and Selebi North shafts) and Selkirk Mine in Tati in 2022,” Keorapetse said.
