Is the KNP under threat of becoming an opencast mine in the future?
"To all nature lovers, and Kruger lovers, please take note of this very real and serious threat faced by a large area bordering the south of Kruger."
KOMATIPOORT – Will the Komatipoort/Kruger National Park (KNP) border be threatened by iron-ore mines in the near future?
It has come to light that a prospecting application has been applied for by an outside party to the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) on land known as Tenbosch 162 JU that borders the KNP Crocodile River, Marloth Park, Lionspruit and Ngwenja Lodge.
Concerns from effected parties quickly flooded Facebook as the notice of the application was put into circulation.
Marloth Park residents such as Ms Lorinda Steenkamp say, “To all nature lovers, and Kruger lovers, please take note of this very real and serious threat faced by a large area bordering the south of Kruger. I am also asking that people take a stance and act against these mining companies which will not stop until every single natural and conservation area has been turned into a mine dump or a huge opencast mine.
“The map displays the area now being part of a prospecting application for iron ore. Although this is only a prospecting application, one has to ask if it should at all be allowed in an area that should never be mined.
“About 14km of this area directly borders the Crocodile River and the Kruger National Park. The area also includes Marloth Park’s own game reserve, Lionspruit, which is home to four of the Big 5. It also includes properties like Ngwenya. One can but just imagine the huge impact the pollution of an opencast iron mine will have on the Crocodile River and Kruger.
“The applicant for this prospecting right is a newly registered company which has a director who is very well connected, and active in the mining industry (not without controversy, especially concerning environmental impact). This is not hit-and- run opportunists hoping to find something they can sell off. This application is serious business!” The KNP is yet to comment on the application and future of the nature reserve.
Corridor Gazette attempted to contact DMR about the concerns of the public and the current status of the application but they were unable to comment before going to print.
