Lengthy South African battle may have turned the corner

Angry community forces minister to listen

Bongani Mthembu , Daily News,

21st August 2008

Fierce opposition to the proposed mine in Xolobeni on the Pondoland coast of the Eastern Cape has forced Minister of Minerals and Energy Buyelwa Sonjica to give the community the opportunity to air their views.

On Wednesday officials sent by the minster to meet the community in Xolobeni were flooded with objections from angry people who did not want Sonjica to allow the start of mining operations in October.

The department of minerals and energy this week granted the Australian Stock Exchange-listed mining company Mineral Commodities the right to mine a portion of the Xolobeni Mineral Sands project. The company was given permission to mine the Kwanyana block in the Xolobeni project, representing about 30 percent of the original area applied for. The area earmarked for the mine includes several rivers and estuaries.

Mzamo Dlamini, of the crisis committee formed by Xolobeni residents, said they were happy the minister had decided to give them the opportunity to lodge their objections.

"We had a very good meeting and hope that our concerns will be taken into consideration. About 300 people lodged their objections," said Dlamini.

He said the officials from the department had failed to convince people to accept the mine.

"People made it clear they do not want the mine because it is going to force them to leave their farms. We also told the officials that the issue of the mine has caused serious divisions among people. The department is now aware that these divisions have the potential to lead to deaths," he said.

According to mining experts, the Kwanyana block contains about 139-million tons of heavy titanium-producing minerals.

The department's spokesperson could not be reached for comment.