Fear ‘time bomb’ may explode among divided residents
August 08, 2008 Edition 1

Bongani Mthembu

FEAR, anger and hoping against hope. That is the mood in the community of Xolobeni, on the Pondoland coast of the Eastern Cape, after the government’s decision to give an Australian company the right to mine the environmentally sensitive dunes in the area.

There is fear violence might break out between people who are in support of the mine and those who have vowed to en-sure that the mining company does not start its operations.

While some people believe the mine will bring the much needed development in that impoverished community, those who do not want the mine are angry and hoping that the project will be abandoned.

They fear that they will lose their farms and homes. They are also afraid that their homes will be destroyed by tremors caused by mining operations.

The Department of Minerals and Energy this week granted the Australian Stock Exchange-listed mining Mineral Commodities (MRC) the right to mine a portion of the Xolobeni Mineral Sands project, along the Wild Coast.

The company was given permission to mine the Kwanyana block in the Xolobeni project, representing about 30% of the original area applied for.

The area earmarked for the mine is along the sea and includes several rivers and estuaries.

According to mining experts, the Kwanyana block contains about 139 million tons of heavy titanium producing minerals, including ilmenite, zircon, leucoxene, and rutile.

Many homes are situated just a stone’s throw away from the site and it is not clear at this stage whether people will be forced to move.

“They tell us that no-one will be forced to relocate, but we think that is a blatant lie,” said one of the residents, Mthanjelwa Mpotomela.

“Our forefathers lived in this area and we also like it because we farm here.”

He said even if people were not forced to relocate, they would be forced to leave because of tremors from the mine, adding that most of their houses were built from mud.

Sputnik Ratau, spokesman for the minerals and energy department, said if people needed to be relocated, there would be negotiations between the community and the mining company.

Mpotomela said the mine had divided the once united community into two camps, and that the situation was like a time bomb waiting to explode.

Some people in Xolobeni claimed that the death of one of the residents, Madoda Ndovela, in 2003 was linked to his opposition to the mining.

“We are worried about the animosity between people who do not want the mine and those who want it. We do not want bloodshed,” he said.

A woman, who wanted to remain anonymous because she feared for her safety and that of her family, said people were scared to voice their views about the mine.

John Clarke, a social worker and member of the Sustain the Wild Coast campaign, said they would sue the minister of minerals and energy, Bulelwa Sonjica.

“She has placed the interests of the foreign company above the interests of local people.

“We are taking this matter to court on the basis that the rights of the local people are not being taken into consideration,” he said.

Clarke also disputed the department’s suggestions that Kwanyana was the least sensitive part of the proposed mining area.

The crisis committee form-ed by Xolobeni residents is also looking to obtain a court interdict to prevent the mining.

Nonhle Mbuthuma, the committee spokeswoman, said that they were also busy with their lawyers.

“We believe we have a strong case. The minister has ignored us and we have no choice but to go to court,” she said.

Bashin Qunya, spokesman for the mining company, said that people who tried to oppose the mine would not win.

“All processes have been followed and the majority of the people are happy with the project,” he said.

Posted on August 12th, 2008
Filed under: Newspaper and Media