Environmentalists served an application to controversial mining house Coal of Africa, as well as the minister of mineral resources, Susan Shabangu, to stop activities at a proposed coalmine near Mapungubwe immediately. The application served on Limpopo Coal, the subsidiary of Coal of Africa, is an attempt by the environmentalists to limit what has already been described an irreversible environmental damage.
The Australian-owned company received a permit earlier this year for its Vele Colliery project next to the Mapungubwe National Park, where the world-famous 800-year-old gold rhino statuette was unearthed in 1933, raising concerns about the threat to a prime heritage spot and environmentally sensitive area. The Mapungubwe Action Group, an umbrella group consisting out of the Endangered Wildlife Trust, the Association of Southern African Professional Archaeologists, Peace Parks Foundation, WWF, Birdlife of South Africa and the Wilderness Foundation of South Africa, is driving the court action.
Coal of Africa chairperson Riaan van der Merwe was unavailable for comment while Shabangu's spokesperson did not return the M&G's calls. The action group has brought out the heavy batters in their fight against the mine. It has appointed legal advisors were from the Centre for Applied Legal Studies at Wits and has also secured top-notch advocate Wim Trengove's services. The action group has lodged internal appeals against both the decision to grant the mining right and the decision to approve the environmental management programme, "These appeals are pending and the applicants have at this stage not yet received any answering papers," said Nick Hilterman, Mapungubwe Action Group chairperson. "In the meantime, construction on the mine site is proceeding at pace and we are worried about the environmental damage. We have launched the interdict application in an attempt to prevent further destruction of the area while the legal disputes are pending,' he said. "The interdict application is thus an interim measure that seeks to prevent the mine from carrying on any mining or related operations at Vele." He said the interdict application also seeks to question the commencement of mining or related operations in the absence of a water use license and on private nature reserves. It is due to be heard in the next month in the North Gauteng High Court.
The interdict comes amid comments environment minister Buyelwa Sonjica made to Reuters this week. "We are concerned about the illegal activities that the company embarked on when this matter was still under discussion,” she said. In addition, the Department of Environmental Affairs has cracked the whip at the mine in the past month and is preparing for a major operation in law enforcement compliance. Sonjica has rallied behind the environmental department, while her other department, Department of Water Affairs, is also resisting the mine's application for a water licence.
In reaction to Sonjica's comments, Coal of Africa issued a statement that all its activities undertaken at the Vele Colliery have been carried out lawfully. "We have not undertaken any activities for which authorisation has not been given," said Simon Farrell, Coal's executive deputy chairperson from Australia. He said the company would oppose the application vigorously. The mining order rate, executed in March this year together with the approved environmental management, permit Coal to start development activities on site, Farrell argued. "The company is unaware of the alleged 'illegal activities' referred to and is therefore seeking an immediate meeting with the minister to identify and address any issues and concerns," said Farrell. He said Coal had been served with two pre-compliance notices from the environmental department alleging various matters, including that the Vele Colliery has proceeded with the construction of the access road and storage facilities. "But we have not undertaken any activities for which authority has not been granted," he said.
With the department's action, the interdict and the looming court battle of the Mapungubwe Action Group, the Australian mine group's argument will most certainly be tested in court. "Coal of Africa interprets the new mining order right as overriding national environmental management legislation and regulations," said Johan Verhoef, Peace Parks Foundation chief. "Therefore they believe that Department of Water Affairs cannot refuse them a water licence. This will all be tested in court and the Vele court case could very well be a watershed case for mining rights in sensitive areas."
Source: Mail & Guardian
Showing posts with label Buyelwa Sonjica. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Buyelwa Sonjica. Show all posts
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
DG exodus an outrage, says Nehawu
The National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu), is "deeply outraged" about how many directors-general have been fired, suspended, resigned in questionable circumstances or threatened to resign in the past 18 months. The public sector union was reacting to the dismissal of Communications Director-General Mamodupi Mohlala by Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda on Friday after "some troubling and discomforting reports" of the minister's alleged interference in the issuing of tenders in the department.
Nehawu general secretary Fikile Majola said the "centre does not hold", intimated that President Jacob Zuma must lead and pointed out that the directors-general were in a state of flux, which bode ill for service delivery. "We expect better answers and compelling reasons about this (Mohlala) dismissal than the tired old line of 'broken trust' because we want to know what broke the trust," said Majola.
The past 18 months had seen the departure of directors-general Njabulo Nduli, Pam Yako, Jimmy Manyi, Thozi Gwanya, Portia Molefe, Vuyi Nxasana and Mohlala.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson told senior officials in the department this week that Nduli had gone on leave, a month after she criticised her director-general in Parliament for the department's regular production of substandard briefing documents. While sources said Nduli would not return, the ministry had refused to confirm or deny the termination of her contract. Dr Moshibudi Rampedi, who allegedly applied for a Food and Agriculture Organisation post last month, was appointed acting director-general this week.
Water Affairs Director-General Pam Yako has been on suspension for a year since being placed on special leave by Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica pending the outcome of an investigation of alleged procurement irregularities. The auditor-general has since found that a contract with a service provider for information technology services was extended "on numerous occasions" to 49 months, and grew in value by 587 percent in the process to more than R1-billion. The extensions contravened the department's procurement and delegation of authority regulations.
Labour Director-General Jimmy Manyi was suspended by Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana recently, apparently because of comments he made during an official meeting with Norway's ambassador to South Africa Tor Christian-Hilda. Soon before his suspension, Mdlalana had apparently told Manyi to choose between his job as director-general and the presidency of the Black Management Forum.
Land Reform Director-General Thozi Gwanya's departure from his post at the end of this month was confirmed by Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti this week. The confirmation that Gwanya's contract had been "redetermined" came after initial denials by the department.
Public Enterprises Director-General Portia Molefe resigned in September. It is unclear why she left.
November saw the ousting of acting Women, Youth, Children and People with Disabilities Director-General Vuyi Nxasana by Minister Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya, apparently after a breakdown in the relationship between her and the minister who was alleged to be loath to make crucial decisions, act on proposals or stick to ministerial handbook guidelines.
Nehawu said it found the situation "troubling, unsustainable and unacceptable", adding that it did not bode well for the stability of governance and service delivery. "The merits and demerits of these suspensions, resignations and dismissals aside, the message that comes out is that the centre is not holding in our government and that is a disturbing state of affairs," said Majola. "The biggest casualties of this chaotic situation is the citizens of this country who expect, and have been promised, service delivery... this presents a challenge when it comes to the implementation of the five identified priorities," said Majola. He emphasised that the country could ill afford the leadership vacuum created by the absence and the uncertainty surrounding these top officials because it demoralised the entire workforce in the departments and created uncertainty and instability. "Nehawu calls on the government to act swiftly in addressing this unacceptable situation of government departments that operate without stable leadership and also investigate the reasons that led to this spate of resignations and dismissals. "Service delivery should be a priority for all of us and... the government needs to start providing clear decisive leadership before it's too late," said Majola.
Source: IoL
Nehawu general secretary Fikile Majola said the "centre does not hold", intimated that President Jacob Zuma must lead and pointed out that the directors-general were in a state of flux, which bode ill for service delivery. "We expect better answers and compelling reasons about this (Mohlala) dismissal than the tired old line of 'broken trust' because we want to know what broke the trust," said Majola.
The past 18 months had seen the departure of directors-general Njabulo Nduli, Pam Yako, Jimmy Manyi, Thozi Gwanya, Portia Molefe, Vuyi Nxasana and Mohlala.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson told senior officials in the department this week that Nduli had gone on leave, a month after she criticised her director-general in Parliament for the department's regular production of substandard briefing documents. While sources said Nduli would not return, the ministry had refused to confirm or deny the termination of her contract. Dr Moshibudi Rampedi, who allegedly applied for a Food and Agriculture Organisation post last month, was appointed acting director-general this week.
Water Affairs Director-General Pam Yako has been on suspension for a year since being placed on special leave by Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica pending the outcome of an investigation of alleged procurement irregularities. The auditor-general has since found that a contract with a service provider for information technology services was extended "on numerous occasions" to 49 months, and grew in value by 587 percent in the process to more than R1-billion. The extensions contravened the department's procurement and delegation of authority regulations.
Labour Director-General Jimmy Manyi was suspended by Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana recently, apparently because of comments he made during an official meeting with Norway's ambassador to South Africa Tor Christian-Hilda. Soon before his suspension, Mdlalana had apparently told Manyi to choose between his job as director-general and the presidency of the Black Management Forum.
Land Reform Director-General Thozi Gwanya's departure from his post at the end of this month was confirmed by Rural Development and Land Reform Minister Gugile Nkwinti this week. The confirmation that Gwanya's contract had been "redetermined" came after initial denials by the department.
Public Enterprises Director-General Portia Molefe resigned in September. It is unclear why she left.
November saw the ousting of acting Women, Youth, Children and People with Disabilities Director-General Vuyi Nxasana by Minister Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya, apparently after a breakdown in the relationship between her and the minister who was alleged to be loath to make crucial decisions, act on proposals or stick to ministerial handbook guidelines.
Nehawu said it found the situation "troubling, unsustainable and unacceptable", adding that it did not bode well for the stability of governance and service delivery. "The merits and demerits of these suspensions, resignations and dismissals aside, the message that comes out is that the centre is not holding in our government and that is a disturbing state of affairs," said Majola. "The biggest casualties of this chaotic situation is the citizens of this country who expect, and have been promised, service delivery... this presents a challenge when it comes to the implementation of the five identified priorities," said Majola. He emphasised that the country could ill afford the leadership vacuum created by the absence and the uncertainty surrounding these top officials because it demoralised the entire workforce in the departments and created uncertainty and instability. "Nehawu calls on the government to act swiftly in addressing this unacceptable situation of government departments that operate without stable leadership and also investigate the reasons that led to this spate of resignations and dismissals. "Service delivery should be a priority for all of us and... the government needs to start providing clear decisive leadership before it's too late," said Majola.
Source: IoL
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Environmental probe for dodgy mining rights
A special environmental government task team is to investigate mining in sensitive areas. This follows a swarm of controversial green lights given by the mining department for mining and prospecting rights in sensitive areas in the past couple of years.
The task team is the result of the long-anticipated meeting last week between Environmental Mminister Buyelwa Sonjica and Mining Minister Susan Shabangu. The two had met to discuss Sonjica’s concern over the controversial Vele colliery next to World Heritage Site Mapungubwe. "The minister is still deeply concerned about what is going at the mine," Sonjica’s spokesperson Sputnik Ratau said. But he said the minister believed the task team was a step in the right direction to resolve the environmental concerns. He described the meeting with Shabangu as fruitful.
Shabangu’s department issued mining rights to Coal of Africa at the beginning of this year, but Sonjica came out strongly against the Vele mine. She requested a formal meeting with Shabangu on the matter in February, but last week’s meeting was the first to result in significant reported progress between the two departments.
Last week the Mail & Guardian reported that the Green Scorpions had swooped down on Coal of Africa’s Vele mine in May. Two weeks ago the department of environmental affairs issued an order against the mine for environmental transgressions. Coal of Africa must now make representations to the environmental department on why it should not be prosecuted.
The M&G understands that the department is now conducting regular surveys to determine what exactly Vele had done. This week officials from both departments flew over the mining area as part of the ongoing investigation. "We need to determine whether the work Vele had done is within the scopes of permission it had been granted, and just how far they had gone beyond the legal framework," Ratau said.
Coal of Africa has maintained that all the work it has done so far, including the clearing of bush and building of new structures, falls in within the mining rights order it obtained. Last week Coal of Africa’s CEO Riaan van der Merwe insisted that the mine had acted within the law at all times.
Vele will not be the only mine investigated by the task team, though it is understood that much of its focus will be on Mapungubwe. "The task team is to look at the bigger picture, the ultimate impact of mining on sensitive areas," Ratau said. "And of course Vele will be one of the new focus areas, as it has been a contentious issue." The task team, which will have high-ranking officials from both the mining and environmental department on board, is also aimed at relieving tensions between the two departments and improving dialogue on environmental issues.
Other sensitive spots that have been in the news for mining activities include areas near Dullstroom, Chrissiesmeer and Wakkerstroom in Mpumalanga, Verlorenvlei near Piketberg in the Western Cape, as well as the Winelands. In many of these areas only strong environmental activism served as a warning to the impacts of mining on the local environment. But environmental activists say their job is getting more difficult with the avalanche of mining licenses the mining department has been awarding.
The two ministers will now draft a definition of what they see as sensitive areas, and the locations of these areas. On Thursday, Gareth Morgan, the DA’s spokesperson on water and environmental affairs, welcomed the task team but called for the two departments to extend this project by establishing a mining advisory forum with a specific focus on the effects of mining on the environment. "The discussion on what is a sensitive area should not be contained only in government," he said. "It should be thrown open to stakeholders from civil society, including farming and environmental organisations," Morgan said.
Source: Mail & Guardian
The task team is the result of the long-anticipated meeting last week between Environmental Mminister Buyelwa Sonjica and Mining Minister Susan Shabangu. The two had met to discuss Sonjica’s concern over the controversial Vele colliery next to World Heritage Site Mapungubwe. "The minister is still deeply concerned about what is going at the mine," Sonjica’s spokesperson Sputnik Ratau said. But he said the minister believed the task team was a step in the right direction to resolve the environmental concerns. He described the meeting with Shabangu as fruitful.
Shabangu’s department issued mining rights to Coal of Africa at the beginning of this year, but Sonjica came out strongly against the Vele mine. She requested a formal meeting with Shabangu on the matter in February, but last week’s meeting was the first to result in significant reported progress between the two departments.
Last week the Mail & Guardian reported that the Green Scorpions had swooped down on Coal of Africa’s Vele mine in May. Two weeks ago the department of environmental affairs issued an order against the mine for environmental transgressions. Coal of Africa must now make representations to the environmental department on why it should not be prosecuted.
The M&G understands that the department is now conducting regular surveys to determine what exactly Vele had done. This week officials from both departments flew over the mining area as part of the ongoing investigation. "We need to determine whether the work Vele had done is within the scopes of permission it had been granted, and just how far they had gone beyond the legal framework," Ratau said.
Coal of Africa has maintained that all the work it has done so far, including the clearing of bush and building of new structures, falls in within the mining rights order it obtained. Last week Coal of Africa’s CEO Riaan van der Merwe insisted that the mine had acted within the law at all times.
Vele will not be the only mine investigated by the task team, though it is understood that much of its focus will be on Mapungubwe. "The task team is to look at the bigger picture, the ultimate impact of mining on sensitive areas," Ratau said. "And of course Vele will be one of the new focus areas, as it has been a contentious issue." The task team, which will have high-ranking officials from both the mining and environmental department on board, is also aimed at relieving tensions between the two departments and improving dialogue on environmental issues.
Other sensitive spots that have been in the news for mining activities include areas near Dullstroom, Chrissiesmeer and Wakkerstroom in Mpumalanga, Verlorenvlei near Piketberg in the Western Cape, as well as the Winelands. In many of these areas only strong environmental activism served as a warning to the impacts of mining on the local environment. But environmental activists say their job is getting more difficult with the avalanche of mining licenses the mining department has been awarding.
The two ministers will now draft a definition of what they see as sensitive areas, and the locations of these areas. On Thursday, Gareth Morgan, the DA’s spokesperson on water and environmental affairs, welcomed the task team but called for the two departments to extend this project by establishing a mining advisory forum with a specific focus on the effects of mining on the environment. "The discussion on what is a sensitive area should not be contained only in government," he said. "It should be thrown open to stakeholders from civil society, including farming and environmental organisations," Morgan said.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Monday, March 8, 2010
South Africa: Losing Battle in Green Crimes
ENVIRONMENTAL management inspectors say they are battling to prevent a large number of environmental crimes, many committed by well-organised syndicates serving markets in the Far East. The deputy director-general for legal research and development at the Department of Environmental Affairs, Ziyaad Hassan, said environmental offences "are seldom committed out of need". "It's a battle we don't seem to be winning and it is a huge concern for us," he said. Disposal of medical waste, illegal dumping, rhino and abalone poaching, and water pollution are top priorities for the inspectors.
Rhino poaching is "as big a problem as it's been in the last 20 years". Powdered rhino horn is more expensive than heroin. Rhinos have been taken out of parks and horns stolen from museums. Hassan said environmental offenders were usually middle-class, well-educated people who took a calculated business decision not to comply with environmental legislation.
Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica said eight white rhino were poached in January from the Kruger National Park, despite hi-tech equipment and extra rangers being deployed. South African National Parks CEO David Mabunda said in January that 93 rhino had been killed over the past three years throughout SA, with 48 arrests having been made. "South Africans must realise that we are not dealing with your ordinary petty criminals here. These poachers are members of well-resourced syndicates and are also involved in chilling crimes like human trafficking, arms smuggling, prostitution and drug trafficking," he said.
Like rhino poachers, abalone syndicates are also linked to other crimes and are driven by markets in eastern Asia.
Source: All Africa
Rhino poaching is "as big a problem as it's been in the last 20 years". Powdered rhino horn is more expensive than heroin. Rhinos have been taken out of parks and horns stolen from museums. Hassan said environmental offenders were usually middle-class, well-educated people who took a calculated business decision not to comply with environmental legislation.
Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica said eight white rhino were poached in January from the Kruger National Park, despite hi-tech equipment and extra rangers being deployed. South African National Parks CEO David Mabunda said in January that 93 rhino had been killed over the past three years throughout SA, with 48 arrests having been made. "South Africans must realise that we are not dealing with your ordinary petty criminals here. These poachers are members of well-resourced syndicates and are also involved in chilling crimes like human trafficking, arms smuggling, prostitution and drug trafficking," he said.
Like rhino poachers, abalone syndicates are also linked to other crimes and are driven by markets in eastern Asia.
Source: All Africa
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs: Buyelwa Sonjica
Minister Buyelwa Sonjica was appointed as Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs on 11 May 2009.
As Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs she has executive authority over the 15 water boards, the Water Research Commission (WRC), the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA), the irrigation boards (IBs), Water User Associations (WUAs) and Catchment Management Agencies (CMAs).
Sonjica, 59, is back in the position she held from 2004 to 2006 - although some thought her tenure there underwhelming. She served as minister for minerals and energy from 2006 till 2009. Reports have joked that she moves from causing global warming to curing it. Given her former position and priorities, Koos Pretorius, of the Federation for a Sustainable Environment, is worried that Sonjica may decide in favour of mining over the environment, the Sunday Tribune reported.
Those who crossed her path during her previous tenure concede that while it was too short to leave any kind of lasting legacy, she was not remembered as an individual with conservation on her mind.
But industry insiders have lauded Zuma's decision to uncouple environmental affairs from tourism and add it to the water affairs portfolio. DA environment spokesperson Gareth Morgan said Sonjica would have a difficult portfolio to manage and matters requiring her urgent attention included SA's negotiating platform at the upcoming climate negotiations in Copenhagen, which former minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk had excelled in. Wessa (Wildlife and Environment Society of SA) said it was "very pleased" that water had been prioritised.
Sonjica has a long history in the party from her days of student politics in East London, and has steadily risen through the ranks. She is known in Eastern Cape education and political circles, having taught at schools in the province between 1979 and 1994. She obtained a BA degree, majoring in English and Xhosa, from Vista and a further BA (Honours) in Xhosa from Rhodes.
Her contact details are here.
The KZN MEC for Agriculture & Environmental Affairs KZN is Lydia Johnson and her contact details are here and here and here.
Source: News 24.com
As Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs she has executive authority over the 15 water boards, the Water Research Commission (WRC), the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA), the irrigation boards (IBs), Water User Associations (WUAs) and Catchment Management Agencies (CMAs).
Sonjica, 59, is back in the position she held from 2004 to 2006 - although some thought her tenure there underwhelming. She served as minister for minerals and energy from 2006 till 2009. Reports have joked that she moves from causing global warming to curing it. Given her former position and priorities, Koos Pretorius, of the Federation for a Sustainable Environment, is worried that Sonjica may decide in favour of mining over the environment, the Sunday Tribune reported.
Those who crossed her path during her previous tenure concede that while it was too short to leave any kind of lasting legacy, she was not remembered as an individual with conservation on her mind.
But industry insiders have lauded Zuma's decision to uncouple environmental affairs from tourism and add it to the water affairs portfolio. DA environment spokesperson Gareth Morgan said Sonjica would have a difficult portfolio to manage and matters requiring her urgent attention included SA's negotiating platform at the upcoming climate negotiations in Copenhagen, which former minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk had excelled in. Wessa (Wildlife and Environment Society of SA) said it was "very pleased" that water had been prioritised.
Sonjica has a long history in the party from her days of student politics in East London, and has steadily risen through the ranks. She is known in Eastern Cape education and political circles, having taught at schools in the province between 1979 and 1994. She obtained a BA degree, majoring in English and Xhosa, from Vista and a further BA (Honours) in Xhosa from Rhodes.
Her contact details are here.
The KZN MEC for Agriculture & Environmental Affairs KZN is Lydia Johnson and her contact details are here and here and here.
Source: News 24.com
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Coal mine threat to world heritage site
Prized world heritage site Mapungubwe, where the famous gold rhino statuette was unearthed, could soon have the scar of an open-cast coal mine on its doorstep. The Vele Colliery project has sparked a row between the department of minerals and energy, which is driving it with single-minded determination, and the department of environmental affairs.
Mapungubwe is a protected site that forms part of the broader Limpopo Shashe transfrontier conservation area. Management of the park is also worried about the mine. Answering a DA question on Friday, Environment Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk told Parliament that, with the information available to him, he could not support the awarding of mining rights. The project would have "detrimental environmental considerations" and "could further impact negatively on the 'sense of place' and tourism potential" of Mapungubwe, the Mapungubwe National Park and Greater Limpopo Shashe conservation area.
Vele Colliery is an initiative of Australian-owned Coal of Africa, which has signed a letter of intent to supply up to five million tons of coal annually from Vele and its sister project Makhado to steel giant Arcelor Mittal. The company wants to start operations at the end of this year, but the minerals department must first give the go-ahead, including an environmental green light. So far only a scoping report, which outlines the potential impact of the mine to be investigated, has been released. A full environmental impact assessment has to be conducted still.
Planned legislation will shift the responsibility for the environmental assessment of mining projects from minerals and energy to the environmental affairs department. The law, however, is still in its infancy. Van Schalkwyk told Parliament that he had communicated his concerns about the mine to the Minerals and Energy Department. Apart from aesthetic and pollution considerations, he was worried about its possible impact on floodplains and wetlands. He said his department "became aware of the proposed Vele Colliery at a very late stage in the process, when the Peace Parks Foundation brought it to our attention".
DA environment spokesperson Gareth Morgan said the expected opening of the mine at the end of the year implied that the scoping report "is merely a cynical attempt to ensure procedural compliance". Morgan called on Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica to reject applications by companies wanting to mine in, or adjacent to, sensitive environmental areas.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Mapungubwe is a protected site that forms part of the broader Limpopo Shashe transfrontier conservation area. Management of the park is also worried about the mine. Answering a DA question on Friday, Environment Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk told Parliament that, with the information available to him, he could not support the awarding of mining rights. The project would have "detrimental environmental considerations" and "could further impact negatively on the 'sense of place' and tourism potential" of Mapungubwe, the Mapungubwe National Park and Greater Limpopo Shashe conservation area.
Vele Colliery is an initiative of Australian-owned Coal of Africa, which has signed a letter of intent to supply up to five million tons of coal annually from Vele and its sister project Makhado to steel giant Arcelor Mittal. The company wants to start operations at the end of this year, but the minerals department must first give the go-ahead, including an environmental green light. So far only a scoping report, which outlines the potential impact of the mine to be investigated, has been released. A full environmental impact assessment has to be conducted still.
Planned legislation will shift the responsibility for the environmental assessment of mining projects from minerals and energy to the environmental affairs department. The law, however, is still in its infancy. Van Schalkwyk told Parliament that he had communicated his concerns about the mine to the Minerals and Energy Department. Apart from aesthetic and pollution considerations, he was worried about its possible impact on floodplains and wetlands. He said his department "became aware of the proposed Vele Colliery at a very late stage in the process, when the Peace Parks Foundation brought it to our attention".
DA environment spokesperson Gareth Morgan said the expected opening of the mine at the end of the year implied that the scoping report "is merely a cynical attempt to ensure procedural compliance". Morgan called on Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica to reject applications by companies wanting to mine in, or adjacent to, sensitive environmental areas.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Plans to mine Wild Coast postponed
Controversial plans to mine titanium at Xolobeni on a pristine stretch of the Wild Coast have been put on hold. The decision came after Minister of Minerals and Energy Buyelwa Sonjica declared that more consultation with the community is needed.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Source: Mail & Guardian
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