Pilgrims Rest Residents March to Theta Mine to Present Memorandum of Demands

By: De-Shark

In a show of unity and resolve on the 11^th of September 2026, residents of Pilgrims Rest held a peaceful march to the offices of Transvaal Gold Mining Estates Limited (TGME), trading as Theta Mine. The community gathered to hand over a detailed Memorandum of Demands to the mine’s management, naming a series of grievances and calling for urgent action and transparency on commitments made under the mine’s Social and Labour Plan (SLP).

The march, characterised by calm determination, ended in the formal handover of the memorandum to TGME’s manager, Mr Leshota Moketla, who received and signed the document. The company has been given 7 days to respond to the community’s demands.

Key Community Grievances

Among the grievances raised, residents highlighted concerns regarding the lack of visible implementation of the SLP’s Local Economic Development (LED) initiatives. Despite a commitment of over R23 million for projects spanning agriculture, small business development, tourism and infrastructure between 2024 and 2028, the community reports no evidence of progress or spending.

Further concerns include the absence of information and opportunities regarding the mine’s bursary programme, which promised at least four bursaries for local youth by 2026. Residents also questioned the transparency of local recruitment practices, the slow pace of Adult Education and Training (AET) and portable skills programmes and limited progress on employment equity targets at board and executive levels.

Additional grievances focused on the lack of a functioning Future Forum as required by mining regulations for ongoing dialogue and oversight, uncertainty around the role and communication of the Community Liaison Officer (CLO) and the need for greater clarity and transparency in the governance of the community trust.

The memorandum outlines ten specific demands. These include:

• Comprehensive written reports on LED spending and project progress.
• Transparency on bursary allocations and clear guidelines for future applications.
• Assurance of fair local recruitment processes.
• Immediate constitution of the required Future Forum with community representation.
• Clarity on the appointment and responsibilities of the CLO.
• Detailed updates on AET and portable skills training enrolment.
• Confirmation of current employment equity statistics at management level.
• Disclosure of procurement spend with Historically Disadvantaged Persons (HDP)-owned companies.
• A copy of the community trust deed and confirmation of election procedures for trustees.

The community emphasised its dissatisfaction with current trustee representation and intends to elect a new representative through a transparent process, requesting the mine’s cooperation to facilitate a fair election within 60 days.

Speaking at the march, residents expressed frustration over what they perceive as a lack of meaningful engagement and delivery on promises made in the SLP. “We are not here to disrupt, but to demand what was promised and to be partners in the development of our own community,” said one local leader Mr Clarence Mashego.

As the community awaits TGME’s written response, residents remain hopeful that their concerns will be met with concrete action and that a new chapter of accountability and partnership can begin.