Johannesburg, 28 January 2019 – Greenpeace Africa celebrates the North Gauteng High Court’s refusal to hear Atha-Africa Ventures’ application to appeal a decision barring them from establishing a 15-year mine in Mabola Protected Environment in Mpumalanga. The decision made on Tuesday last week highlights the urgency of protecting such areas critical to South Africa’s biodiversity.
The mining group’s attempt to establish Yzermyn mine was thwarted thanks to the combined efforts of the Mining and Environmental Justice Community Network of South Africa, groundWork, Earthlife Africa, BirdLife South Africa, The Endangered Wildlife Trust, The Federation for a Sustainable Environment, The Association for Water and Rural Development, and the Bench Marks Foundation.
In addition to being testament to the courage that people have to resist governmental imposition, it is also an act for which the legal system and the process of consent should both be applauded. GPAF calls on all communities affected by coal mining to be inspired by this victory and to courageously follow suit in defence of their lands and livelihoods.
Media Contacts:
Chris Vlavianos, Communication Officer – Greenpeace Africa, [email protected]
Discussion
Good day we stay in a town Ogies in mpumhlanga Glencore mine is minning 180 meters from our houses they are not working on their final EIA that the licence was aproved on and they made big heaps of silica 150 meters from our houses and it is as bad as asbestos the mine is not worryd because every boddy gets payd off not to say anything.Rainbow minnerals is with the mine and the ceo is morris matshepe and our president is married to matseps sister and there is a lot off coruption taking place thanks Adriaan