Prospecting mining sites proposed in Hibberdene, Mtwalume
A public meeting was held at the Hibberdene Community Hall recently, however, people walked out as they felt that the consultants were not well prepared.
Two sites for prospecting activities have been proposed for the South Coast – one in Hibberdene and the other in Mtwalume.
In the Hibberdene application, prospecting rights are for lithium ore, titanium, gold ore, and more by Zilutha (Pty) Ltd.
Activities on the site would include associated infrastructure, structures and earthworks directly related to the prospecting of mineral resources. The proposed location is a cluster of farms in Hibberdene.
According to a community member, who did not wish to be named, a public meeting was held at the Hibberdene Community Hall recently, however, people walked out as they felt that the consultants were not well prepared.
He said that the public meeting date was not provided in the advert and that it was arranged at short notice, and only after the comments closure period.
Furthermore, he added that the current process be cancelled and the application withdrawn.
“Should the applicant still wish to pursue it, it should be under a completely new application.”
Meanwhile, the director of the environmental consulting company, Unako Consulting, Mandlenkosi Sibindi, said the purpose of the meeting was to inform interested and affected parties about the proposed application, outline the nature of prospecting activities, and provide a platform for questions and submissions as part of the ongoing environmental authorisation process in terms of the National Environmental Management Act.
“Crucially, it is important to clarify that the application relates solely to prospecting activities, prospecting does not constitute mining authorisation. During the session, several community members expressed deeply held anxieties regarding the long-term environmental and social impacts of historical mining operations within the broader region. These concerns were noted and form part of the formal record of the public participation process.”
Sibindi said that the process remains ongoing and is intended to ensure that all interested and affected parties can participate meaningfully before any regulatory decision is taken.
He concluded that all statements, objections, and queries raised in Hibberdene were meticulously documented in the official Public Participation Report for review by competent regulatory authorities.
On the Mtwalume site, Africa Minerals (Pty) Ltd intends to apply for prospecting rights for lithium ore on Farm Friedenau in Umzumbe Local Municipality under the Mathulini Tribal Authority.
As the proposed prospecting site is within 500m of the Mtwalume River, environmental consulting firm, Icebo Enviro Projects, has been appointed to conduct a basic assessment. This process aims to assess potential environmental impacts and to recommend appropriate mitigation measures.
The proposed prospecting area covers some 430.39 hectares.
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