The Makhado Action Group (MaKAG) has also added its voice to the growing number of voices opposing Australian mining company Coal of Africa Limited’s (CoAL) planned mining activities in the Soutpansberg Valley.

MaKAG said in a statement last Tuesday that they will continue to oppose the approval of any mining rights for CoAL’s Makhado project, even if they have to approach a court of law. “This position is subject to CoAL's revising its applications, so that they comply with prevailing legislation and the values subscribed to by us,” said MaKAG.

MaKAG issued this statement after they learned about CoAL’s recent plans for the Greater Soutpansberg Project in an information document that announced the project in May this year. CoAL is currently in the process of applying for the amendment of six prospecting rights.

MaKAG also expressed concern because the information document was not preceded by any public-participation processes. “Various interested and affected parties have been alerted to the availability of this document; however, it has not yet been secured and studied,” says MaKAG in its statement.

The group is firm in its support of mining, provided that it “forms an important component of the country’s economy” and must be “socially, economically and environmentally sustainable and comply fully with the very extensive suite of legislation.”

“It is our opinion that CoAL’s Makhado application does not coincide with [these] objectives,” said the group. It further points out that the whole area in which CoAL’s proposed mines will fall has been classified by the Limpopo Government’s Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) as “irreplaceable, unique in habitat and of high conservation priority”.

Additionally, it is also worried about the fact that CoAL has failed to secure an adequate and credible water supply to conduct the proposed mining operation. It has little faith in CoAL’s strategy to secure water allocations from commercial farms on the Nzhelele Dam’s water scheme.

“According to information supplied to us by the Department of Water Affairs, there is no unallocated water in the area … which could be put to use by CoAL in support of the Makhado mine’s water requirements,” says MaKAG. 

In response, CoAL has said that they have already placed significant resources and investment into studying the various options for bulk water through highly credible consultants. “The preferred bulk water supply option is water supplied from the Nzhelele Dam. The current options being considered to obtain water from this dam include buying irrigation rights from farmers, contributing capital expenditure to raise the Nzhelele dam wall and increase the yield thereof for a partial allocation with Coal, and improving the efficiency of the Nzhelele water scheme through canal repairs,” says CoAL’s statement.

CoAL further alleges that MaKAG chairperson Mr Francis Nicholson was informed about all the documents, proposed projects and public participation processes in a timely manner. They further deny LEDET’s classification of the Limpopo Valley, stating that these were preliminary conservation plans that have not yet been published or approved.

“We recognise that the proposed mining area falls within the Vhembe Biosphere which was declared by UNESCO … [and] are fully committed to complying with the extensive suite of legislation that governs [mining] activities in South Africa.”

In the meantime, the public still have time until 24 July to voice their opinions and concerns about the environmental plan of the Soutpansberg Project. Naledi Development, CoAL’s independent consultants conducting all the public-participation processes, can be contacted for more information. Their contact number is Tel 012 543 9093.