mogalakwena south africa new power struggle unfold south africa old homelands global mine giants traditional leaders impoverish rural populace part industry long use labor unrest contend community protest cut production country large mineral export earner platinum may shut operations altogether heart conflict tribal leaders royal title feudal-style control homelands poor rural areas designate south africa black majority former white minority rulers apartheid tribal leaders also key ally president jacob zuma whose political base become increasingly rural african national congress party draft law would cement control protest spread across homelands communities mine company within anc move change see anachronistic system traditional leaders act intermediaries company discover chrome coal well platinum homelands hope find shale gas many locals say see none proceed give us 175 million rand 13 million go shut mine say chippa langa leader community around mogalakwena platinum mine refer community fund set anglo american platinum amplats avoid outcome lead human right lawyer negotiate local royal house allow community representatives control fund renegotiate agreement make accountable say lawyer richard spoor whose work include spearhead class action suit gold producers fatal lung disease silicosis miners contract plan copy elsewhere would dilute power tribal leaders could anc rule south africa since end apartheid 1994. spoor say legal team act communities rather mine undermine tradition view democratic model far align traditional law custom regard current authoritarian top-down style chieftanship consistent traditional institution zolani mkiva head presidency contralesa umbrella group south africa traditional leaders agree african way bottom say call isolate case involve mine deal give chiefs bad name tend attract attention create impression represent african way leadership say chris griffith chief executive amplats unit anglo american say company fully behind restructure community trust apply lessons learn deal try get away previous structure felt oblige pay money kgoshi chief griffiths tell reuters note new-style deal chrome project february project protest far discontent confine mogalakwena world large open-pit platinum mine amplats say protest two years ago cost 8,600 ounces annual 200,000-plus ounces production impala platinum marula mine say lose 10,000 ounces almost 80,000 ounces production last financial year community protest include road block vehicle stone assault people report work nearby chrome project set tribal council make chief aid collapse impala say may soon close marula would first shutdown south africa link purely social upheaval fall platinum price multiply pressure implats ceo nico muller tell reuters company would change structure want two side resolve differences way apply proceed perceive benefit broad community say around mogalakwena set amid rust-tinged rocky outcrop swelter latitudes north johannesburg resentment grind poverty run deep never work mine never get benefit nothing say 57-year-old leg phalanea walk dusty street near mine bill parliament formalize current political system homelands clause allow traditional councils enter partnerships body institution say deal must beneficial community represent council require consultation however richard mdakane anc mp chair parliamentary committee traditional matter say villagers say amend many clauses make sure bill allow community participation process say anc seek go end chief role custodians land regard communal give villagers title deeds land plough anc treasurer secretary zweli mkhize see contender replace zuma party chief december conference policy position also adopt tell reuters discuss issue huge discussion kind land tenure need former homelands tribal power already ebb place mogalakwena villagers agree new trust structure four trustees one amplats one independent two royal mapela clan replace structure dominate tribal council former chief kgabagare langa oust dispute say challenge removal court new chief kgoshi hans langa say could comment restructure lawyers work residents say receive positive signal new chief camp amplats griffith say company wait settle clear new kgoshi want see peace mapela say jonathon manamela 53 treasurer mapela executive committee community group involve talk culture believe king people 13.5818 rand protest test tribal authority south africa 's platinum belt