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South Africa: Protected Areas Need Not Pit Humans Against Nature
New Frame, 28 October 2020
The ever-increasing capitalist onslaught on protected environments will be stopped only if we fundamentally change the way we conceptualise their value and purpose. Read more »
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South Africa: Constitutional Court Rules Against Coal Mining in Mpumalanga Protected Area
groundWork, 18 November 2019
The Mabola Protected Environment near Wakkerstroom, is part of more than 70 000 hectares of grasslands in Mpumalanga, that was declared protected under the Protected Areas Act by… Read more »
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South Africa: Constitutional Court Rejects Coal Mining Company's Attempt to Appeal
GroundUp, 20 November 2019
In a short, sharp smack-down, the Constitutional Court has rejected an attempt by would-be coal mining company Atha-Africa Ventures to draw it into a controversial plan to mine… Read more »
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South Africa: Supreme Court of Appeal Sends Coal Company Packing
GroundUp, 23 July 2019
No mining will take place in Mabola Protected Environment for now Read more »
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South Africa: Supreme Court of Appeal Closes Another Door On Coal Mine in Mpumalanga Protected Area
groundWork, 16 July 2019
On 9 July 2019, the President of the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) dismissed Atha's latest attempt to appeal the High Court's decision to set aside permissions for a new coal mine… Read more »
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Africa: Communities, Mining Corporations and Corruption in South Africa
The Conversation Africa, 7 February 2019
During the apartheid era in South Africa, the mining industry operated without restraint and had undue influence over government decision-making. This created an environment where… Read more »
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South Africa: New Blow for Would-Be Mpumalanga Coal Miner
GroundUp, 29 January 2019
A surprise, flip-flop decision by Mpumalanga MEC for Environmental Affairs Vusi Shongwe has delivered another blow to an Indian mining company trying to establish a huge new coal… Read more »
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South Africa: Twitter Abuse Continues in Mabola Coal Mine Saga
GroundUp, 29 October 2018
A senior executive in a coal mining company promised to be "more sensitive" after formal complaints to the Minerals Council South Africa about his abusive social media comments. Read more »
Green Light for Mining in Protected South African Grasslands
The Mpumalanga provincial government has revoked the status of the Mabola Protected Environment. The move opens the way for mining in the sensitive grassland and water catchment area, has been welcomed by the Voice Community Representative Council, which says this will bring jobs. Eight civil society institutions, including the Centre for Environmental Rights, have been fighting to prevent mining in the area. This comes despite rulings by the Supreme Court of Appeal and Constitutional Court against coal mining company Atha-Africa Ventures which seeks to pursue operations in the grassland area.
The Mabola Protected Environment is part of more than 70,000 hectares of grasslands in Mpumalanga that was declared protected under the Protected Areas Act by the Mpumalanga provincial government in 2014. This followed years of investment, including extensive research and planning by a number of government agencies, including the then Department of Environmental Affairs, the South African National Biodiversity Institute and the Mpumalanga Tourism & Parks Agency.
