Thread by @JohanLorenzen

1. As ⁦@imanrappetti⁩ interviews ⁦@GwedeMantashe1⁩ for the keynote address at the Mining Indaba, Nonhle Mbuthuma is sung to the stage for the keynote address at the Alternative Mining Indaba to speak on Xolobeni’s stand for the #Right2SayNo for all communities.

@imanrappetti @GwedeMantashe1 2. Nonhle opens her keynote by thanking the communities and civil society who have stood with Xolobeni over the years.

She says she is often asked why foreigners and outsiders support Xolobeni.

Her response: "Solidarity is not a crime"

@imanrappetti @GwedeMantashe1 3. Nonhle notes that South Africa's constitution is rightly praised.

But for Xolobeni, the state has participated in an assault on the community.

So the community had to take their own government to Court to demand the #Right2SayNo to mining.

And won.

@imanrappetti @GwedeMantashe1 4. She notes that @GwedeMantashe1 has appealed against the #Right2SayNo judgment by arguing that no mining will happen with such a right.

She rightly calls this absurd. The #Right2SayNo means the Right to Say Yes on terms that favour affected communities.

@imanrappetti @GwedeMantashe1 5. She also notes the absurdity of the state's approach of both appealing the #Right2SayNo judgment, and to attempt to consult.

This is why Xolobeni has asked Mantashe to stay away.

Every time he comes, he brings conflict. An elder hit with rubber bullet.

@imanrappetti @GwedeMantashe1 6. But Mantashe has said he is a Minister. No one can tell him where he can and can't go.

"He force himself. He impose himself to our community. Where we said Minister, we are not interested"

@imanrappetti @GwedeMantashe1 7. We understand why the government fights with us.

When they think of development, they can only think of mining.

Why don't they think of alternatives? As climate change devastates the earth.

@imanrappetti @GwedeMantashe1 8. This is Xolobeni will never give up.

We will fight to the Constitutional Court for our right to make decisions about development on our land.

@imanrappetti @GwedeMantashe1 9. Mbuthuma: Despite appealing the #Right2SayNo judgment, the government now wants to conduct a survey of the community.

And we ask, where in all of South Africa has the government ever done a survey on behalf of a mining company? Using tax money to help mining companies?

10. Mbuthuma’s concluding remarks: As communities face devastation across Africa and even Brazil, we will continue to stand against extravism and for community power in Xolobeni and beyond.

11. First question for Nonhle is from Davine Cloete, who says she is fighting the devastation by the same company that wants to mine Xolobeni along the West Coast.

Instead of engaging, the company is suing her.

Now Minister Mantashe is visiting the mine, but not the community.

12. Nonhle: To the Queen of the West Coast - we stand with you, we are with you.

That is why I say: "Solidarity is not a crime."