Mining company Coal of Africa (CoAL) and the Save Mapungubwe Coalition Group have buried the hatchet with the signing of a memorandum of understanding.

As part of the agreement, CoAL undertook to ensure that their open-cast Vele Colliery near the Mapungubwe World Heritage Site will do minimum damage to the environment.

The broader scope of this memorandum was disclosed by CoAL and the coalition during a press conference last Thursday, 24 November. Next, the parties will seek to conclude the agreement, which will contain further details concerning their commitments in managing the sustainable development of the Mapungubwe cultural landscape. Both parties have also agreed to conduct their discussions in good faith, with the aim of setting a new best-practise benchmark for managing and mitigating the impact of mining and related activities at the Vele Colliery on the environment.

For the past year, CoAL has been involved in a legal battle with the coalition that threatened to delay the construction of Vele.

According to CoAL, under the terms of the memorandum, the coalition has agreed to stay legal proceedings against the awarding of the new-order mineral right, water licence and environmental management programme at the Vele Colliery by the end of January next year.

“The memorandum complements the memorandum of agreement signed in September, between the South African National Parks and the Department of Environment Affairs committing to the preservation of the Mapungubwe Heritage Site,” said CoAL’s CEO, John Wallington.

According to coalition spokesperson Yolan Friedmann, negotiations will focus on further research, monitoring and modelling of the potential impact of mining at the Vele Colliery, as well as requisite amendments and improvements to CoAL’s approved environmental management programme and integrated water-use licence.