Guy Rogers ENVIRONMENT & TOURISM EDITOR
THE proposed Xolobeni dune mine on the Pondoland coast will have a
significant negative affect on local tourism, according to a draft
assessment of the mining project commissioned by the developer.
Undertaken by Johannesburg- based consultancy GCS, the draft
environmental impact assessment (EIA) has been made available for
public comment at various libraries and schools, and also online.
The proposed Xolobeni site is situated on the north-east tip of the
Eastern Cape coast in the Pondoland area of the Wild Coast. It
stretches 22km from the Mtentu River in the south to the Mzamba River
in the north.
[Read more…]
Posted on November 14th, 2007 by Louis
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WILD COAST MINING - FOREIGN MINING COMPANY GAMBLES WITH THE FUTURE OF SOUTH AFRICA’S RURAL POOR.
For from providing further clarity on the proposed mining on the Wild coast, a recent focus group meeting held at Port Edward between SWC and GCS, the consultants undertaking the ‘Xolobeni mining’ EIA, has raised more questions than ever about the legitimacy of the mining process.
The meeting revealed a huge lack of detail in the planning domain, making it exceedingly difficult for the public get a clear idea of exactly what the project entailed, or of any impacts it might have.
‘It is hugely worrying that a foreign mining company is gambling with the livelihoods and future of numerous rural communities and one of South Africa’s most pristine natural resource treasures, [Read more…]
Posted on September 27th, 2007 by valpayn
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ILLEGAL COTTAGES RULING SHOWS WILD COAST IS NOT FOR GRABS.
12 September 2007
Sustaining the Wild Coast (SWC) welcomes the recent Supreme Court of Appeal judgment that upholds the order of demolition of illegal cottages built along the Wild Coast.
SWC is of the opinion that the judgment helps provide legal clarity to what was a ‘grey area’ in the legislation governing that region. That is that the Environmental Conservation Decree No 9 of 1992, legislated under the rule of then Transkei leader General Bantu Holomisa as a conservation measure for the Wild Coast, still has legal status [Read more…]
Posted on September 23rd, 2007 by valpayn
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Following a public meeting at the Xolobeni Tribal Authority on Monday June 18 approximately 150 local residents from five villages affected by the dune mining proposal, demanded a direct meeting with Mark Caruso, CEO of Australian mining company Mineral Commodities Ltd (MRC), and his South African representative John Barnes who runs TEM (Pty) Ltd the wholly owned South African subsidiary. [Read more…]
Posted on June 20th, 2007 by admin
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Wild coast communities are calling on Government to veto an Australian mining venture’s proposal to mine dunes along the scenic Wild Coast for heavy minerals.
Petitions have gone to Department of Minerals and Energy (DME), the MEC for Eastern Cape Economic Affairs and Tourism and the Department of Public Enterprises stating their opposition to mining and expressing a preference for community development options that would benefit community interests and allow the conservation of the pristine environment of the area.
And in an unprecedented move, sangomas within the communities have added their own weight to the call, saying that the ancestors have made it known that they also oppose mining.
The petition states [Read more…]
Posted on May 15th, 2007 by admin
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Sustaining the Wild Coast (SWC) calls upon the government of South Africa to reject out of hand the recent application for a licence to mine dune minerals along the Pondoland Wild Coast by Australian mining company Mineral Resources Commodities and its local associates, Transworld Energy and Mineral Resources and Xolco.
This call is made out of concern that the current process of decision making with respect to mining developments does not fall within the jurisdiction of normal environmental impact assessment procedure, does not allow for an independent process of review, potentially contravenes South Africa’s commitments under the Convention of Biological Diversity, and does not insist on a holistic cost benefit analysis of the merits or demerits of various development options for the region. [Read more…]
Posted on April 4th, 2007 by admin
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