Struggle for coal and anthracite mine continues

KOMATIPOORT – Manzolwandle Investments is scaling down its proposed mine from nearly 18 000 hectares to about 10 000.

The mining company plans to open an open-cast and underground coal and anthracite mine between Komatipoort and Marloth Park near Ngwenya Lodge, close to the Crocodile River bordering the Kruger National Park (KNP).
Manzolwandle Investments’ majority owner, Elliot Ngwenya informed the Marloth Park Ratepayers Association (MPRA) on Monday that the revised application will no longer include Marloth Park or Ngwenya. They have also decided to ask for an extension on the application.
This came after a outcry over the proposed mine.

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During a meeting between stakeholders held last week, the company’s mine expert and consultant admitted that the previous environmental impact assessment (EIA) and scoping/assessment reports were a joke, and that they had informed their clients that they would have to drill a lot more than eight holes.
Proper EIA and assessment reports would have to be done from scratch, as they are not even sure at this stage that a mine would be viable in the proposed area.
Lawyer Richard Spoor, who is one of the parties opposing the mining, informed them that
10 000 hectares was still ludicrous, and that he cannot take their application seriously in any way as to the huge area proposed and what it would entail from a mining perspective.

Liaison lawyer, Jan Engelbrecht suggested that Manzolwandle withdraw the application and start afresh on a much smaller scale and informed them that they would still have a huge fight on their hands due to the proximity to the buffer zone of the KNP and from the farmers, as the agricultural sector brings in the majority of income and job creation in the Nkomazi area.
According to Cindy Benson, from the MPRA, the opening of the mine would have an enormous impact on the tourism and hospitality sector as it is also a major source of income and job creation in the area.
She also pointed out that there is a water shortage in Nkomazi due to the river catchments and the Kwena Dam being so low. Heavy coal-laden trucks would impact the N4 and the already-too-busy roads, and the possible catastrophic consequences of blasting under the N4.

Spoor claims that Manzolwandle Investments still does not have a proper understanding as to mining and the appropriate mining procedures that have to be followed. He had demanded that the Department of Mineral Resources provide him with information and documentation to help the MPRA oppose the application for mining rights.
The department had failed to not respond to a September 30 deadline, and Spoor intends to now build a case against it in the High Court.
Benson and DA councillor, Mariette Preddy, have also approached the Human Rights Commission on behalf of the MPRA to investigate the matter.