A hard-hitting documentary by award-winning filmaker Don Guy is to be shown on environmental programme 50/50 , next Monday 11 August at 7.30pm on SABC TV 2.

This follows a protest march by local residents, and an announcement this week that mining rights are to be granted for 30 per cent of the Xolobeni area to Australian junior mining company Mineral Commodities.

DOWNLOAD the PETITION Here !

DOWNLOAD the PETITION Here !

DOWNLOAD the PETITION Here !

DOWNLOAD the HRC report Here !

DOWNLOAD the HRC report Here !

DOWNLOAD the HRC report Here !

See.swc.org.za for further details

Posted on August 8th, 2008 by Louis
Filed under: Current Issues | No Comments »

5/8 Metro News 15:01

Environmentalists are up in arms over the decision by the minerals and energy department to allow titanium mining along the Eastern Cape’s wild coast, the company Mineral Commodities has been awarded mining rights for the so called Krinyana(PH) block which represents 1/3rd of the original area applied for . 1 min

5/8 RSG Nuus 17:00

The Department of Minerals and Energy has given the green light for the mining of titanium on the Eastern Cape Wild Coast. Mineral Commodities have acquired the right to mine. Environmental organizations originally opposed the mining operation. 1 min

5/8 R2000 News 17:00

Environmentalists are up in arms over the allowance of titanium mining on the Eastern Cape’s wild coast; Mineral Commodities have been awarded mining rights for the area, int. Sputnik Ratao Environmental Department. 1 min

5/8 SAfm News 18:01

Environmentalists are up in arms over the decision by the minerals and energy department to allow titanium mining along the Eastern Cape’s wild coast, the company Mineral Commodities has been awarded mining rights for the so called Krinyana(PH) block which represents 1/3rd of the original area applied for. 1 min

6/8 702 John Robbie 06:31

John comments about the St Lucia mining in that now there is another scandal that emerged about the Wild Coast now. Its an area that has been given mining rights- the Xolobeni Minerals Sands and anyone who knows anyone about this please give us a call. 1 min

6/8 Radio 702 John Robbie

07:45 Wildcoast Mining- the Xolobeni Minerals Sands

(int) Attorney for Wildcoast Community, Richard Spoor. He discusses about the problems with mining dunes for titanium at St Lucia with regards to the proposed mining of the Wildcoast. He talks about the environmental Impact Assessments, the ecological sustainability of the area as well as the potential for developing the area. The Minerals and Energy Department is very aggressive in developing mines in this country regardless of the cost to the environment, awards mining rights without water rights and environmental approval.

8/8 Radio 702 John Robbie

07:22 Wildcoast mining rights

[REPLAY OF RICHARD SPOOR INTERVIEW EARLIER THIS WEEK ABOUT XOLOBENI MINERAL RIGHTS]

07:23 Wildcoast mining rights!

(Int) Deputy Director General of Mineral Regulation at the Department of Minerals and Energy-Dosinto Rosha. He responds to the strong attack from Richard Spoor about the mining rights. He says they have not received any objection within this granting of the mining rights for the area. If there is an objection they would address with the land owners before putting the mining equipment on the land. He says that Richard Spoor-the lawyer of his standing and caliber, before he speaks to the media he must learn not to be economic with the truth. He says DME is pro development and that area is a poverty sensitive area.

07:46 Caller comments about the Wildcoast area mining rights issue. He says that there is a river in the Wildcoast area that has the kingship majestic fish and this river is a renowned sanctuary and questions whether the open cast mining for titanium will have an impact on this river.

The Jenny Crys Williams Show, on Radio 702 will feature the dune mining story on Monday from 2.30 pm.

Callers are invited. The show is available on audio stream.

Posted on August 6th, 2008 by Louis
Filed under: Related Info | No Comments »

An announcement appeared on Monday morning ( 4th Aug) on the Australian Stock Exchange website listing for MRC Ltd (http://www.asx.com.au/asx/research/CompanyInfoSearchResults.jsp?searchBy=asxCode&allinfo=&asxCode=mrc. ) reporting that “the Department of Minerals and Energy of the Republic of South Africa.. will proceed to grant to its South African Subsidiary Transworld Energy and Mineral Resources (SA) Plty Ltd, the mining right for the Kwanyana Block within the Xolobeni Mineral Sands tenement area”. The announcement goes on to say that “the remaining areas will be held under a Prospecting Right valid to 2010 which can be extended until applications are made to convert the remaining areas to Mining Rights on a block by block requirement.” Interested and Affected Parties wait to be officially informed by DME of their decision.

SWC is extremely alarmed by this announcement. Any awarding of a mining licence is in complete contradiction to the wishes of local communities who are vehemently opposed to the mining application. The announcement raises questions about the validity of government consultation processes, and about the application of legal criteria supposed to protect communal land tenants from exploitation.

SWC is also extremely concerned that in light of the MRC statement that ‘“the remaining areas will be held under a Prospecting Right valid to 2010 which can be extended until applications are made to convert the remaining areas to Mining Rights on a block by block requirement”, that this is nothing more than an ill conceived, undemocratic, devious, manipulative, underhanded, scandalous and possibly unlawful attempt by DME to award full mining rights by stealth.
This flies in the face of all democratic processes that are supposed to protect communal land rights and protect the environment, and raises questions about DME’s commitment to democratic processes, sustainable development and poverty alleviation.

SWC is also alarmed by the announcement presenting on MRC website, prior to Interested and Affected parties being officially informed by DME. This raises questions about the impartiality and suitability of DME as a deciding party on the ROD, when the civil interests of South African citizens seem to play second fiddle to foreign corporate interests.

The threat of mining has, to date , hindered the development of eco-tourism investment in the region, and an open ended prospecting permit such as DME seem to be in favour of granting, will do little to promote equitable sustainable development initiatives that are sorely needed in the area. Awarding this highly controversial mining application to a foreign mining company, at the expense of local community livelihoods and wishes, amounts to nothing more than a plundering of South Africa’s natural resources by foreign interests, and a complete disregard by DME and government for the wishes of local community.

The announcement also raises questions about the legality of DME’s decision in light of the newly enacted Integrated Coastal Management Act, which gives DEAT unquestioned jurisdiction in RoDs that impact on coastal areas. .

The Kwanyana block represents approximately 30 % of the mining area. The Kwanyana block is situated between the Mnyameni and Kwanyana estuaries, which are both highly sensitive coastal marine environments, – but with astounding natural beauty and thus locations with considerable appeal to tourists.

SWC will respond with further details about further actions in due course.

Issued by

Lylie Musgrave
Kibao Communications
tel: 27 31 2613406
fax 27 31 2616232
mobile: 072 2970974
email: kibao@iafrica.com

Posted on August 6th, 2008 by Louis
Filed under: Newspaper and Media | No Comments »