TLU SA notes with great concern the increasing number of mining applications targeting agricultural land. This situation requires immediate government attention to prevent the negative impact on the environment and the agricultural sector.
In July 2021, President Cyril Ramaphosa established the Presidential Climate Commission to advise the government on the path to a low-carbon economy and a climate-resilient society. This commission is a result of the Paris Agreement, which was developed under South Africa’s leadership at COP17. The Paris Agreement is South Africa’s commitment to addressing climate change.
One of the commission’s proposals was to reduce emissions by dismantling coal power stations and increasing investment in renewable energy. The government’s acceptance of new coal mining applications contradicts this commitment and threatens the country’s food production and small-scale farmers.
The Constitution protects everyone’s right to an environment that is not harmful to their health. Case studies around the world show how mining destroys the conditions essential for healthy and productive agriculture. Communities report livestock deaths, soil contamination, acidic water sources, destruction of agricultural land, and forced relocations. Promises of job creation by mining projects are often exaggerated and short-lived, with benefits only reaching a small group. The impact of mining extends beyond the mine site, with long-term pollution affecting areas and communities.
In the court case of Baleni and Others v Regional Manager Eastern Cape Department of Mineral Resources on 11 September 2020, it was confirmed that communities have the right to say no to proposed mining projects that threaten their interests. The court ruled that mining rights cannot be granted without the full and informed consent of the community. The government must pay attention to the voices of residents where development is not to the community’s benefit. People cannot eat coal, and agricultural land is essential for food production.
In December 2020, the Department of Agriculture, Reform, and Rural Development introduced the Conservation and Development of Agricultural Land Bill. This bill aims to protect agricultural land from non-agricultural use and ensure the conservation of high-potential agricultural land. TLU SA calls on the Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, to urgently declare agricultural land as protected areas to safeguard it against destructive mining applications.
TLU SA urges the government to act immediately against illegal mining activities that destroy the environment and the country’s resources. Repeated requests and complaints to the Department of Mineral Resources, the Department of Environmental Affairs, the Department of Water and Sanitation, and the Green Scorpions have yielded little to no positive response. Africa is already suffering from famine, and governments continue to recklessly manage resources.
The Department of Mineral Resources currently approves applications that only meet minimum requirements. Applications must be reviewed with greater deliberation and responsibility. The government must set aside transformation and empowerment of the disadvantaged and prioritise the interests of the country and its people.
A national SAPS task force has already been appointed to investigate illegal mining activities, confirming the extent of the problem.
TLU SA remains committed to the conservation of our agricultural land and the protection of our communities against the harmful impact of uncontrolled mining.
