Isaac Cloete – Springbok

Noudat ag name van die 10 onwettige delwers bekend is, na forensiese toetse en vingerafdrukke, maak inwoners van Nababeep hulle reg vir die grootste massa begrafnis in die dorp se geskiedenis.

Blykbaar gaan al vyf oorledenes, na verwagting, na ‘n massa-begrafnis op Mc Cloud Park, op die dorp te ruste gelê word. Dié rugby stadion is waarskynlik die geskikste plek volgens gemeenskapsleiers.

Vyf persone van die eertydse koper myndorp, was deel van die groep van ongeveer 26 onwettige delwers wat op 22 Mei, by die Bontekoe-myn buitekant Kleinzee, deur ‘n vallende tonnel oorval en gedood is:

Hulle is die broers, Franklin Steven Adams (30) en Edward Louis Adams (43); Denver Jacobus Smith (20) en Ruben Emmanuel Cloete (41). Die vyfde persoon is vermoedelik Jacques Kleintjies, wat nog nie uitgeken is nie.

Die ander is Rolin Edward Magerman (22) van Komaggas; Aubrey Boois (35) van Hondeklipbaai en Fabian Milford van Matjieskloof. Die neënde oorlede delwer wie se naam bekend gemaak is, is George Boyce (47) van Steinkopf. Die lyk van sy seun, Emile Boyce (16) was teen druktyd, ook nog nie
uitgeken nie.

Volgens, polisiewoordvoerder, kapt. Cherelle Ehlers gaan die ingewikkelde DNS-toetse eers afgehandel word om die laaste twee liggame ook uit te ken. Dit kan baie lank neem.

Die begrafnisreëlings kan gefinaliseer word sodra die lyke terug is op Springbok. Intussen staan die Bontekoe Rampfonds van Radio Nfm, 98.1 glo reeds op meer as R50 000 en stroom geld steeds in.

Intussen is ‘n sakeman van Komaggas baie moeilik oor diamant myn konsessies wat glo nog steeds aan die “voorheen-bevoordeeldes” toegeken word. “Wanneer hulle aansoek doen onderneem hulle om ons mense te bemagtig. “Sodra hulle die jêm het, gee hulle vir ons die kaiings. Hulle steel ons grond se minerale.”

Sondag sal die familie en gemeenskap van die dorpie, Komaggas, in Namakwaland finaal afskeid neem van een van die jongmanne, wat twee weke gelede tragies gesterf het tydens die Bontekoe- Mynramp.

Ronald Magerman (21) was die enigste kind van Siena Magerman, maar moes weens nood sy lewe waag om haar te help cope met die swaar lewe. Siena was nie getroud nie.

Volgens ‘n woordvoerder van die familie, ds. C. Present van die Calvynse Protestantse Kerk (CPK) het die gemeenskap die familie goed ondersteun met fondsinsamelings. Hy het verder gesê: “Daar was byvoorbeeld ‘n sang aand in die buur dorpie, Buffelsrivier en ‘n nootleggings diens deur die CPK.
“Die familie gaan ook geld ontvang van die Bontekoe Rampfonds. “Die begrafnis polis sal die res dek.”

Aubrey Booies (35) se familie wil hom ook graag Saterdag begrawe as sy lyk betyds (teen Donderdagaand) uit die Kaap kom, het sy suster, Kathy Booies (37) gesê. Die begrafnisdiens gaan dan Saterdag in die gemeenskapsaal op Hondeklipbaai wees. Volgens haar was die familie Rooms-Katoliek, maar toe hul ouers bekeerd raak, het hulle AGS gedraai. Die AGS sal dus die diens behartig.

Sy (en Aubrey) woon by haar pensionaris-pa, Daniel Booies (75). Die ander twee broers en een suster is al uit die huis en oor haar baba-boetie sê sy: “Aubrey was nie stout nie, net baie grapperig. Vra maar almal op Hondeklipbaai. Ons is nog baie bedroef oor hom. Hy het en wou maar net die huis onderhou.”

Intussen het ‘n bron bevestig dat al die families uit die Bontekoe Rampfonds gehelp gaan word met ‘n kospakkie en ‘n geldelike bydrae.

Persverklaring

The Executive Mayor of the Namakwa District Municipality, Councillor Frank Van Den Heever, convened an intergovernmental and stakeholder meeting on 04 June 2012.

The purpose of this meeting was to assess and evaluate the Namakwa District’s response to the Bontekoe disaster, as well as looking at ways to continue improving the districts collective effort in response to and during disasters.

The meeting once again extends its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of this unfortunate and tragic disaster.
This meeting joins all those who highlight the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality as major contributors to desperation and therefore re-affirm government’s stated commitment towards fighting these challenges.

OPERATION IN REVIEW

The meeting agreed that the collective effort of most role players at the Bontekoe disaster was commendable and worthy of praise, however improvement is necessary to maximise effort and output, ensuring we deliver accordingly to our constitutional and legal mandate.

A total number of 10 bodies were recovered and one survivor rescued.
The Namakwa Disaster Advisory Forum will therefore meet as soon as possible to look at the recommendations made.
De Beers will continue to mine the area until all diamond carrying deposits are recovered to ensure the site does not attract illegal mining activity.

COMMUNICATION AND THE MEDIA

Open and transparent communication to the communities and broader society was of utmost importance; however it was essential that such communication be responsible and sensitive to the people and communities affected given the situation at hand.
In some instances communication proved to be non-factual, wrong and sometimes outright insensitive and irresponsible. It is standard protocol that crime scene information gets communicated via the police, which in this case did take place.

FUNERAL SERVICES

At the time of going to press several funeral services were planned for this coming weekend in Hondeklip Bay, Garies and Komaggas where as another four services are expected next weekend in Nababeep. Interested parties can contact the local counsellors for updated information including the Steinkopf arrangements.

AVAILABLE SERVICES
The Department of Social Development is currently busy with various counselling sessions for communities and individuals. This is complemented by counselling sessions by the Department of Education to pupils of disaster affected communities as well as schools in the areas affected by this incident.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO CONTRIBUTED

The Executive Mayor, on behalf of government, would like to thank the following role-players: The Department Road, Safety and Liaison, SAPS, GCIS, Department Social Development, Department of Health, SASSA, NDFT, NDM, De Beers, Black Mountain, Siyanda Department of Health, National Media, Local Media and Radio NFM.

A special word of thank you to the communities and local businesses that in this tragic time united as one and pledged to support the disaster operations and affected communities. Radio NFM will announce in due course the total amount pledged to the Radio NFM Disaster Fund in aide of the affected.