Solidarity among anti-mining groups
Mining affected communities continue to make their voices heard
FOLLOWING the murder of Sikhosiphi Rhadebe, an anti-mining activist in Xolobeni on the Wild Coast, anti-mining activists from Fuleni and Somkhele joined forces with the Wild Coast’s Amadiba Crisis Committee and protested outside Durban’s Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) on 7 April.
The protest took place after anti-mining groups received information that the DMR Minister, Mosebenzi Zwane, would be visiting KZN on the same day.
The Fuleni protesters are convinced DMR ‘strongly supports’ Ibutho Coal’s proposed Fuleni mine.
In November, Ibutho Coal announced it would take time to give adequate consideration to objections and further consult communities.
The protesters, which included numerous environmental, anti-mining and human rights groups, handed a letter to DMR.
‘The government needs to implement our country’s mining and environmental laws and abide by the Constitution and Bill of Rights by consulting and listening to mining affected communities,’ it said.
‘In addition to the curse of coal mining, KZN is further threatened by fracking and offshore drilling for oil-fossil fuel extraction that the government has committed our country to decreasing by signing international protocols to reduce our greenhouse emissions.’
The letter went on to say numerous murders of anti-mining activists have not been adequately investigated by police who ‘openly favour pro-mining offenders and fail to protect local residents or investigate threats, intimidation, violence and murders reported to them.
‘Short term profits from mining bring enormous benefits to the few elite but leave behind a devastated, polluted landscape, unfit for agriculture, and impoverished people whose land and natural resources have been stolen from them to be ravaged by mining operations.’
One protest attendee was allegedly told by DMR officials that coal mining in Fuleni would go ahead, thanks to an ‘impressive’ presentation by Ibutho Coal. This was denied by DMR’s Ayanda Shezi, who said no DMR official can make such a statement.
‘The DMR has not received any ‘impressive presentation’ from Ibutho Coal.
The application is still in process and will be reviewed in line with the relevant provisions of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA).
DMR will make an informed decision based on all information presented to it from the applicant, as well as representations from all Interested and Affected Parties.
