April 17, 2008, 13:45
The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has subpoenaed the ministers of Minerals and Energy, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, and Land Affairs to appear at a commission of inquiry. The three ministers have failed to respond to allegations of human rights violations of people living near a proposed mining development in the Eastern Cape.
Australian-based Transworld Energy Minerals (TME) and a local community empowerment group, Xolobeni Community Empowerment Company (Xolco), have proposed a dry mining operation in the Xolobeni area. It is estimated to contain the tenth largest concentration of titanium-producing heavy minerals in the world.
The proposed mining development will extend along 22km of coastline and about 1.5km inland and will cover over 2 800 hectares. The project has resulted in an outcry from NGOs such as Sustaining the Wild Coast.
Mining project to destroy eco-tourism
The NGO has argued that should the mining development go ahead it will destroy the resuscitated eco-tourism project along the same stretch. However some community members in support of the development have called on the Department of Minerals and Energy to ignore the cries of environmentalists and go ahead with the development, saying unlike the eco-project, the mining development will provide them with jobs, housing and basic amenities such as clinics and schools.
The commission wants the ministers concerned to appear before it next week Tuesday, to explain the extent to which public consultation has taken place, including details of all the interested and affected parties who were consulted before a mining licensed was issued.
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