Uncertainties about new mine

A new battle awaits all those opposing the application for an opencast coal mine in the Onderberg south of the N4, across the road from Marloth Park and other major farming operations.
After studying the new application, the group legal representative of the local land owners and the Marloth Park Ratepayers Association (MPRA), Richard Spoor, said this application from Manzolwandle Mining must be treated as a completely new one.

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Cindy Benson from the MPRA told Corridor Gazette that uncertainties with the latest environmental report, as was the case with the previous one, are already starting to become evident. She was in contact with the newly appointed environmental consultant, Limp Earth and Environmental (Pty) Ltd of Ehlanzeni. She spoke to Tshifhiwa Netsianda who apparently informed her that he was very new to the project and that he himself did not have all the particulars. He admitted that he took the previous report of 2018 and made some improvements to have it completed before the deadline set by the Department of Mineral Resources.

Benson discovered that the new consultant from Limp Earth and Environment (Pty) Ltd has registered it as a business, but does not have a website and is not registered with the Environmental Assessment Practitioners Association (EAPASA). He is, however, registered with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) as a natural scientist candidate.
She also contacted Charl Venter, who, in the previous application, acted as mining consultant for Manzolwandle. He confirmed that he had not been briefed on the matter since the previous application last year. This never realised due to an insufficient environmental-impact study (EIS) and the withdrawal of the consultant after it became a criminal matter.

According to Benson, Venter also confirmed that his advice to Manzolwandle last year was that the planned operation was too close to the Kruger National Park and other game-reserve related operations to be environmentally feasible.

Her advice is that all those opposing the application should now reregister as interested and affected parties to combat the current situation. She cautioned that no one should be fooled by the fact that it is a much smaller affected area earmarked for the mine to be developed this time around, as they are still awaiting confirmation from the Department of Mineral Resources with regards to the withdrawal of the previous permit.
“Nothing is stopping Manzolwandle from starting to mine on a small section of five hectares and then expanding to the larger area of 17 975 hectares, with or without the previous mining-rights application being current or not.”
Benson said, once again, that it did not follow the correct protocols and procedures on public participation. The company put the notice up on February 17, stipulating that interested and affected parties (IAPs) have 30 days to respond. It then put one advertisement in Lowvelder four days later.
No IAP forms were sent out to the community for public participation, and no public meeting was arranged with interested and affected parties.
Benson requested that all affected parties yet again assist in opposing this new development.
She can be contacted on mpra.cindy@gmail.com.