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Mapungubwe Action Group appeals!
Credit: Jo-Anne Duggan
The Mapungubwe Action Group (MAG), continues to do battle against the threat of coal mining in the area, as noted in the following communication from MAG spokesperson Nick Hilterman:
A lot has been happening on the Vele Colliery front and this communication is provided to bring you up to date.
As you will be aware, the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) approved the mining licence in January and the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) in March. It was very difficult to determine exactly when these were approved as neither the DMR, CoAL/Limpopo Coal nor the consultants would communicate with us in any way. We also were refused provision of a copy of the final EMP but eventually managed to secure a hardcopy through our sources. There appeared to be only one change to that which was originally circulated. The distance of the mine from Mapungubwe was changed from 7km to +-5.6km. So in essence, the EMP that the DMR approved took no cognisance of any expert I&AP inputs. We consider that it is fatally flawed!
The following actions have already taken place:
The following organisations have joined forces and have registered as Applicants:
o The EWT
o MAG
o Association of Southern African Professional Archaeologists
o Peace Parks Foundation
o WWF
o Birdlife of South Africa
o Wilderness Foundation of South Africa
Our legal advisors were appointed. They are from the Centre for Applied Legal Studies at WITS and the team is headed up by Professor Raylene Keightley. Additionally, we have the services of two practising advocates and, should matters end up in court as we expect they will, we are delighted to have secured the services of Wim Trengrove.
All the organisations above appealed the awarding of the mining licence, see document attached.
The approval of the flawed EMP was appealed last week. Our sincere thanks to all on the legal team who spent many hours putting this together.
On 20th April, Bateleurs kindly flew me and Johan Verhoef over the Vele site. Pictures were taken of the major internal roads being constructed as well as two major bush clearings. It was evident that very heavy equipment was operating on the site and that equipment was being delivered.
Regarding future steps, I understand that the DMR Minister has to be given a small window of opportunity to respond to the appeal against the EMP. This is important as she actually has the power to suspend the mining licence and we have provided the substantive grounds to justify her doing exactly that. Should she however fail to do so, or should her response be considered inadequate, then the door will be open for an interdict and we are now preparing for that.
The issue of publicity is important but such should not be allowed to derail our legal proceedings. At present a further TV programme is scheduled to be made in the near future, appropriate press releases will be provided and other innovative strategies are in the pipeline.
If any MAG member comes across any observations or information that they think will be useful to our cause, then I would be very appreciative of such being communicated to myself.
With kind regards,
Nick Hiltermann
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