DELMAS — Operations at a mine near Delmas were disrupted after trucks belonging to Delmas Pride Logistics blocked the entrance gates in protest against a decision to significantly reduce the number of trucks allowed to operate at the site.
According to information obtained by Highveld Chronicle, members of the Delmas Pride Logistics parked their trucks at the mine gates, preventing vehicles from entering or leaving the facility.
The dispute stems from a letter issued by mine management under the Salungano Group, communicated through Neosho Trading 86 (Pty) Ltd, informing Delmas Pride Logistics of the conditional upliftment of a suspension previously imposed on the company.
In the letter dated 26 February 2026, management stated that the suspension would only be lifted if several conditions were met. One of the most contentious conditions was a requirement that Delmas Pride Logistics reduce the number of trucks operating at the mine.
“The upliftment applies strictly under the following conditions: Delmas Pride must reduce its fleet according to the maximum allocation for certified trucks. The maximum allocated trucks to Delmas Pride is 30–40 trucks,” the letter states.
It further notes that only trucks fully compliant with mine and Eskom safety and contractual requirements will be permitted access to the site. The company was also instructed to submit a list of approved trucks for verification.
Additional conditions include dash-cam verification before site entry, weekly submission of dash-cam footage, subcontractor monitoring, implementation of corrective action plans and ongoing compliance audits.
Management said the measures are intended to ensure compliance with supply obligations.
“It is important to emphasise that Salungano supports local businesses, and this objective is to ensure that our Coal Supply Agreement is secured and protected. We want to work collaboratively with Delmas Pride to ensure that we consistently meet all Eskom compliance requirements,” the letter states.
However, Delmas Pride Logistics rejected the condition requiring a reduction in its fleet.
In a formal response, the cooperative stated that it consists of 34 locally based companies operating approximately 120 trucks, many of which have been servicing the mine for several years.
“We do not agree with the proposed reduction of our fleet,” the cooperative said in its letter. “The 120 trucks within our cooperative have been operational within the framework for many years and represent the livelihoods of numerous local operators.”
The company further indicated that it fully supports all safety and compliance measures, including camera verification, monitoring systems, submission of footage and audits, but maintains that the fleet reduction would negatively impact local businesses and workers.
“We fully agree with compliance, camera verification, subcontractor oversight, footage submission and audits, as Delmas Pride commits itself to all safety precautions for all 120 trucks,” the letter states.
Sizwe Sibanyoni, a member of Delmas Pride Logistics, told the publication that the situation has already had a serious impact on their operations.
“It's been over a month now our trucks are not working. We are about 34 members and our trucks had stopped, but they told us to at least use 30 trucks because Eskom reduced the mine tons. But there is a white-owned company, SG Coal and Legends Logistics, which didn't reduce their tons but increased. So we want fairness and equal treatment from the company,” he said.
Sibanyoni added that the decision is negatively affecting local businesses that have depended on the mine for years.
“It’s killing our business and we are a local company. We only work here and we have been here for years. Even when the mine was going through difficulties we were here, but now that everything is good on their side, they turn their backs on us,” he said.
The blocking of the mine gates highlights growing tensions between local trucking operators and mine contractors over the allocation of transport work linked to coal supply agreements with Eskom.
Highveld Chronicle contacted Thulani Ndlovu, a line manager at the mine, for comment through repeated phone calls seeking a right of reply regarding the matter. However, no response had been received at the time of publication.
At the time of publication, the company indicated that it was awaiting a response from mine management regarding its objections to the fleet reduction condition. Negotiations between the parties are expected to continue.
