April 24, 2013Produced by Lawyers for Human Rights and the Centre for Environmental Rights
Many mining communities continue to suffer from the environmental impacts left behind by mining activity in their areas.
Special Assignment airs an intriguing production that gives you insight into how the lives of communities around the country are affected by mining in their areas and how many of these mines are left un-rehabilitated in accordance with the law. The stories are told through individuals in the affected communities.
We first look at the community of Hondeklipbay in the Northern Cape, who claim that they cannot hold De Beers accountable for the proper rehabilitation of Namaqualand Mine before they sell it to Trans Hex. Community Leader, Dawid Marcus says the mine has damaged the land and explains the struggle that the community has had to go through to ensure their environmental right.
We also focus on the impact of coal mining on some communities in Mpumalanga, near Belfast. Through the voice of emerging farmer Samson Sibanda, we hear how the un-rehabilitated Cousin’s Coal mine on his land is affecting his farming business. The acid water from the mining footprint has allegedly killed some of his cattle. We also meet the community of Wessleton outside Ermelo, which also allegedly experiences the negative impact of coal mining in their daily lives.
Lastly, we travel to the Batlhabine community near Tzaneen in Limpopo, which has been left to deal with the consequences after a now defunct mining company – Blue Platinum Ventures 16 – was shut down by the Department of Mineral Resources due to alleged non-compliance and fraud. The company mined for clay, but abandoned its operations, and now the community alleges that its activities have resulted in their loss of fertile topsoil and major erosion in the area.
Who should ultimately be held accountable for ensuring the environmental rights of mining communities?
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