St Lucia — Villagers in KwaZulu Natal's impoverished Pondoland on Monday rejected proposed mine and road developments in a bid to protect the region's fledgling eco-tourism industry.

The development proposals include the extension of the N2 toll road to KwaZulu Natal's border with Mozambique, and establishment of various dune mining operations.

Pondoland Development Trust (PDT) project manager Mvula Lolwana said on Monday villagers and local tourism entrepreneurs believed the developments would destroy the unique character and central marketing 'drawcard' of the Wild Coast region.

"All residents surveyed by the trust prefer to keep their fauna and flora despite promises of short-term job creation," said Lolwana.

The PDT is a community-based non-profit development agency for the Wild Coast region.

"We all want development in Pondoland, but not this kind of development.

We want something that will upgrade our current way of life and not destroy it, and we definitely do not want temporary jobs that will be created at the cost of environmental degradation," said Lolwana.

He added that government development experts had failed to consult on any of the proposed infrastructure projects and often assumed local communities were ignorant of environmental concerns.

"But just because we're rural doesn't mean we're stupid. The proposed highway will do little more than bring high-speed traffic through a bio-sensitive region with little local economic benefit," he said.

"There has been no consultation with us. For generations the Wild Coast has been neglected, and as a result we have grown a close relationship with our fauna and flora. We therefore reject any suggestion that this road is supposed to improve our lives." Lolwana suggested that government planners urgently meet with affected communities to discuss existing and future development plans, and to hear local views on how government could bolster existing eco-tourism and other economic developments.