By: Christy van der Merwe

The South African Human Rights Commission on Tuesday adjourned the meeting regarding the Xolobeni community, which was supposed to be attended by the Minister of Minerals and Energy, the Minister of Environmental affairs and Tourism, and the Minister of Agricultural and Land Affairs, adding that the meeting would be reconvened at a later date.

The Ministers did not appear before the commission in person, but sent officials to attend the subpoena hearing.

The SAHRC had been investigating complaints over the controversial Xolobeni mining project, in the Eastern Cape, and issued subpoenas to the Ministers, following the officials’ failure to respond to its initial enquiries regarding allegations of human rights violations of the people living in the areas affected by the proposed mining development.

Transworld Energy Minerals, a subsidiary of Australian-based Mineral Resource Commodities (MRC), is seeking to mine titanium-bearing heavy minerals from the dunes in the area.

The complaint was lodged by the Amadiba Crisis Committee (ACC), which said on Wednesday that it welcomed subpoena hearing chairperson Commissioner Leon Wessels’ decision to adjourn the meeting and reconvene it at a later date.

The complaint was lodged with the SAHRC on behalf of local Xolobeni residents in July 2007, alleging that seven of the fundamental human rights enshrined in the constitution had been violated. These were: the right to an environment that is not harmful to peoples health, and to have the environment protected and conserved for the benefit of present and future generations; as well as the rights to human dignity; freedom of expression; assembly; freedom of trade; occupation and profession; property; and access to information.

The final environmental-impact assessment (EIA) was handed over to the DME in December 2007, and initially a record of decision (RoD) was expected in January 2008. The RoD was, however, still to be issued, leaving the Xolobeni community unsure of whether a mining license will be granted for the area or not.

The ACC further called upon the SAHRC to reconvene the meeting in the Amadiba Tribal Administrative Area where the mining development was proposed, “so that the Honourable Ministers, government officials and the media, can experience first hand the Amadiba Coastal area of the Pondoland Wild Coast, and to meet the five affected coastal communities face to face”.

Editor: Mariaan Olivier

Posted on April 23rd, 2008
Filed under: Newspaper and Media