Farmers can comment on potential mine near Bethal

Talk of more than one company wanting to open mines on farms near Bethal, began in 2015 and is ongoing.

One of the farmers, Vlam Venter, has been fighting this battle since 2015.

Sasol Mining is the latest company to have applied for environmental authorisation through a scoping and environmental impact reporting process, a waste management license and an integrated water use licence to also open an opencast mine in the area.

The Ridge Times reported in February are still fighting to prevent Canyon Coal from continuing with the Witfontein mining project which was planned for farms between Bethal, Trichardt and Piekspruit.

Sasol Mining now wants to launch the Alexander mining project which will affect farms between Bethal and Kriel.

The biggest issue Venter had with the Witfontein mining project is that the mine would be opened on a piece of land that was found to be the second-best agricultural land in Mpumalanga.

https://www.citizen.co.za/ridge-times/118325/bethal-farmers-want-answers-from-department-of-environmental-affairs/

Venter reckoned this land should be protected under the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act.

Some of the other issues Venter had included neighbouring mining activities, such as water, air quality, noise and sense of place, not taken into consideration.

Venter said the increase of trucks travelling on the farm roads is another big concern for him and other farmers.

He said he also has never seen one rehabilitated mine, thus managers saying in consultation sessions that mines will be rehabilitated after mining is finished, cannot be held to their promises.

In documents from Sasol Mining’s consulting company, it stated that the consultation scoping report will be available for residents to view and comment on from August 24 to September 23.

Residents can gain access to the documents electronically by visiting the website, https://www.jaws.co.za/public-document/alexander-consultation-scoping-report/ or viewing it at the libraries in Bethal and Kriel.

Sasol Mining has to conduct this integrated regulatory process to get approval for the proposed Alexander Mining Project.

Those interested in receiving further information, should register as an interested and affected party by filling in a form available on the website, www.jaws.co.za.

Residents can also attend a stakeholder meeting that will be held on September 8 from 10:00 to 12:00 in Bethal to discuss the contents of the consultation scoping report.

Those interested must register their attendance by contacting the consultation company, Jones & Wagner at 011 519 0200 or sending an email to anelle@jaws.co.za.Farms that will be affected by this project include Rietfontein 100 IS, Rietfontein 101 IS, Alexander 102 IS, Boschmanskraal 113 IS, Brakfontein 117 IS, Riversdale 119 IS, Syferfontein 115 IS, K-stad 79 IS, Witbank 576 IS, Witbank 80 IS, Witrand 103 IS, Caley 77 IS, Van Schalkwyksrust 118 IS, Weltevreden 116 IS, Tweedraai 139 IS, Trichardtsfontein 140 IS and Frischgewaagd 142 IS.

https://www.citizen.co.za/ridge-times/281312/farmers-are-still-upset-about-proposed-mine-near-bethal/