Fuleni mine speculation
While the four affected Fuleni communities continue to fight Ibutho Coal's proposed mine, there is speculation that a tribal leader has already given the company the go-ahead.
AFTER the ‘demolition sticker’ outrage in Nthuthunga Two last week, speculation over progress of Fuleni mine is rife, some saying a tribal leader may have already given Ibutho Coal the go-ahead.
Ocilwane, Nthuthunga, Nthuthunga Two and Novunula are the villages said to be the most affected by the proposed Fuleni anthracite mine, yet they are allegedly the only villages with which Inkosi Mthethwa is yet to hold a conference.
In accordance with Zulu tradition, the villagers have been waiting for Inkosi Mthethwa to visit them so they can air their mine-related grievances directly with him. While the people consider him a good king and have given him their loyalty, he has met with other affected communities, leaving the four directly affected communities for last.
Furthermore, on at least three occasions since mid-December, Inkosi Mthethwa has cancelled such meetings on the day, citing bad weather, ailing health and safety concerns.
Despite Fuleni’s amended final scoping report (FSR) failing to address key issues such as the lack of water to operate a mine, buffer zones around protected areas, and a lack of public consultation, the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DEDTEA) has accepted the FSR.
This paves the way for Jacana Consultants to conduct an environmental impact assessment (EIA), the next step in Ibutho Coal obtaining a mining license.
‘By accepting a seriously flawed document to guide the EIA process, authorities are undermining environmental impact legislation and encouraging a shoddy EIA process,’ said Sheila Berry, spokesperson for Global Environmental Trust (GET), Save our Wilderness (SOW) and Community and Wilderness Alliance (CAWA). According to Berry, all input from organisations that identified serious inadequacies and major omissions in the amended FSR was disregarded.
‘This is seen as an indication that authorities are intent on pushing ahead with the mine, regardless’.
Ibutho Coal spokesperson Johan van den Bergh failed to respond to the Zululand Observer’s written questions.
However, the company’s website states: ‘The project will directly influence four communities, namely Ocilwane, Novunula, Nthuthunga One and Nthuthunga Two, of which Ocilwane will be mostly affected. Ibutho Coal is conducting detailed, transparent engagements and discussions with these communities and their leadership’. @TamlynJolly
