SAY “NO” TO NEW MINES, AND STOP CURRENT MINES POLLUTING OUR HEADWATERS
- by: Mkhondo Residents
- recipient: The Public Protector: Adv Thuli Madonsela The Minister Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, The Minister of Tourism, The Minister of Water Affairs, and The Minister of Mineral Resources
South Africa is a water scarce country.
Our constitution gives us the right to have the environment protected, for the benefit of present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures that prevent pollution and ecological degradation and promote conservation. It also gives us the right to have access to sufficient food and water.
They Heyshope dam catchment area (near Piet Retief) is one of the best watered areas in South Africa. The dam, first in the series of four dams, forms part of a vast water transfer scheme of National Strategic Importance. It is already under duress. Eskom uses it for process water, and a portion of the water from the area is already dedicated to supply downstream users, Municipalities and can supply Gauteng with water. It sustains more than 60,000 people through commercial farming peasant farming, heavily invested government employment projects (including agriculture, and dairy farms).
Now coal mining is threatening to destroy what is left. The unscrupulous efforts of current miners including KANGRA, JINDAL Africa and KWASA is already leading gross violations, including mining without a water license, leeching of poisonous minerals into the ground, and potential acidification of the Assegaai River and its tributaries.
Our wetlands are dying from mine related pollution and we fear that ground water levels will soon start to drop. Wetlands and Springs will disappear. The Heyshope dam will run empty. Eskom's Highveld power stations will be affected. Forestry in the area will disappear. Gauteng's water demands (for which the Vaal River is already insufficient) will turn to crisis. The community of Driefontein, surrounding farmers and Mkhondo and Swaziland’s residents will not have access to clean water anymore. Water reliant government projects like farming will become wastelands.
The Mkhondo Municipality also acknowledges the problems associated with the mining activities, yet have not assisted to mitigate or address the situation. We quote ”The main concentration of mining in the municipality is situated in the west of the municipality (south of Heyshope Dam). Coal mining in the west of the municipality causes soil contamination, pollution of local watercourses through acidification, groundwater pollution, and emission of atmospheric pollutants, which should be minimized.” (Source: Integrated Development Plans)
Please stop new mining applications in this area to prevent a regional and national crisis.
Please become ruthless in your enforcement of our country's environmental legislation on the remaining mining operations.
We depend on your skills and influence for our survival. Please do not desert us in our time of need.
For some visuals visit: http://youtu.be/gPY5fec_QgM
TO: The Public Protector, Adv Thuli Madonsela registration2@pprotect.org
CC: The Minister Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries via their officers COSMIN@daff.gov.za and SybillaH@daff.gov.za
CC: The Minister of Tourism, Marthinus van Sckalkwyk,via the Head of the Ministry raucamp@tourism.gov.za
CC: The Minister of Water Affairs, Edna Molewa via the office of the minister govenderk@dwa.gov.za
CC: The Minister of Mineral Resources, Susan Shabangu, via the ministry's executive assistant lerato.maibelo@dmr.gov.za
Dear Adv Madonsela
PLEASE SAY “NO” TO NEW MINES, AND STOP CURRENT MINES POLLUTING OUR HEADWATERS
The Heyshope dam catchment area (part of the Upper Vaal, Usutu to Mhlatuze and Pongola catchments) is one of the water richest areas in South Africa, a country with serious water scarcity. Its catchment is characterised by vast wetlands and numerous springs which remain active throughout the dry season.
The Heyshope Dam (near Piet Retief) is situated in this area, and stocks water reserves for distribution to Eskom's Highveld Power Stations, and for drinking and industrial water to Gauteng and other areas, (including Swaziland). This is already reducing the availability of water downstream of the dam, and during the dry winter months these water demands reduce the mighty Assegaai River to a mere trickle.
The economy of the area is supported by farming (commercial and peasant), forestry, wood processing industry, and tourism. Mountain bikers enjoy meandering through this unique landscape and there is an increasing interest in water related recreational activities in the area.
The national government has already invested heavily in sustainable up-liftment of previously disadvantaged communities in the area through investment into community farming and other employment creating projects.
South Africa's mining companies, including multinationals and conglomerates like KANGRA and JINDAL (and Kwasa) have started to ruthlessly mine for coal in the headwaters to this sensitive area. Acid mine drainage is destroying wetlands and the vital Headwaters of the catchment area. Streams are rusty red with heavy metals. The ground leaches out white sediments. Livestock deaths are a frequent occurrence. The people cannot drink from the previously clean streams anymore. Wetlands are dying.
The Mkhondo Municipality also acknowledges the problems associated with the mining activities, yet have not assisted to mitigate the situation. We quote: ”The main concentration of mining in the municipality is situated in the west of the municipality (south of Heyshope Dam). Coal mining in the west of the municipality causes soil contamination, pollution of local watercourses through acidification, groundwater pollution, and emission of atmospheric pollutants, which should be minimized.” (Source: Integrated Development Plans)
If the Heyshope dam catchment area dies, South Africa dies.
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