Water and Environment Affairs Minister Edna Molewa has angered activists by allowing an Australian company to resume mining on the doorstep of the Mapungubwe World Heritage site.

Coal of Africa pleaded with Molewa [...]]]> Posted by: Saving Water SA (Cape Town, South Africa) – partnered with Water Rhapsody conservation systems – 24 Oct 2011

Water and Environment Affairs Minister Edna Molewa has angered activists by allowing an Australian company to resume mining on the doorstep of the Mapungubwe World Heritage site.

Coal of Africa pleaded with Molewa to be allowed to continue mining

The Save Mapungubwe Campaign, a coalition of seven groups, said the minister’s decision was “contrary to the ordinary procedure stipulated in the National Water Act.”

The mining licence, granted to UK-listed Coal of Africa in March, was suspended in July following a Water Tribunal appeal lodged by the coalition citing discrepancies in the granting of the licence.

Coalition spokesman Hayley Komen said the minister’s discretion to lift the suspension should be exercised only in extraordinary circumstances, which in this instance did not apply.

The coalition fears that Molewa’s decision will enable other companies to apply to have the suspension of their licence rescinded.

But Water Affairs spokesman Linda Page said Coal of Africa had pleaded with Molewa to be allowed to continue mining because the appeal against the suspension might take a long time. The lengthy suspension would have a negative effect on mining operations, revenue and the workers, she said.

Page said that the coalition’s concerns were covered by the licence conditions and it would be involved in the monitoring of the water resources during mining operations.

By: Sipho Masombuka
Source: Times Live

Fauna and Flora International (FFI) a longtime partner of UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre, launched a global appeal this week with the objective of helping protect over 50,000 hectares of the globally unique “fynbos” ecosystem [...]]]> Posted by: Saving Water SA (Cape Town, South Africa) – partnered with Water Rhapsody conservation systems – 16 Oct 2011

Fauna and Flora International (FFI) a longtime partner of UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre, launched a global appeal this week with the objective of helping protect over 50,000 hectares of the globally unique “fynbos” ecosystem in the Cape Floral region of South Africa. The targeted lands are in the World Heritage site’s buffer areas, contributing to the long term integrity of the Cape Floral Region Protected Areas World Heritage property.

The fynbos is an area where diversity of life on Earth is being generated today

The plant biodiversity of the fynbos is greater than that of the Amazon. Sadly, according to IUCN’s Red List of endangered species, the fynbos biome also contains the highest number of endangered plants in the world, making the conservation of this area vitally important.

Dr Sandra Knapp, Merit Researcher at London’s Natural History Museum said, “For botanists like me, the fynbos area is fascinating. It is the most species-rich habitat on Earth, and is an area where speciation is happening at a rapid rate. This means that the fynbos is an area where diversity of life on Earth is being generated today, making it a key area for the conservation of plant diversity.”

Lazare Eloundou-Assomo, chief of the World Heritage Centre’s Africa unit, adds:  “The inscription of the Cape Floral Regions Protected Areas onto the World Heritage List was a real success story.  The property is comprised of several highly dispersed protected areas and is the result of a tremendous effort on behalf of the South African people to protect a unique, highly vulnerable ecosystem. The additional efforts from FFI of furthering the conservation of the fynbos are much appreciated.”

In 2004, over 550,000 hectares of the Cape Floral Region were inscribed onto the World Heritage List. The appeal launched by Fauna and Flora International hopes to raise sufficient funds to help increase the area of protected and sustainably managed fynbos ecosystem in the region. FFI provides the secretariat services of the Rapid Response Facility for World Heritage sites.

Source: Unesco

Australian green activists expressed outrage at a government decision to allow energy giant Shell to drill for gas at a pristine reef that was listed as a World Heritage site just two weeks ago.

In the face of a torrent of objection from the conservation community, Richards Bay Minerals has withdrawn its prospecting application submitted with a view to mine north of its present operation.

Looking towards [...]]]> Posted by: Saving Water SA (Cape Town, South Africa) – partnered with Water Rhapsody conservation systems – 09 December 2010

In the face of a torrent of objection from the conservation community, Richards Bay Minerals has withdrawn its prospecting application submitted with a view to mine north of its present operation.

Looking towards iSimangaliso, and the the highest forested coastal dunes in the world. Photo by Paul Dutton - 2008

The decision was confirmed to the Zululand Observer on Saturday by consultants, Golder Associates.

‘While proceeding with the Environmental Management Plan and public participation process, RBM recognised they would be intruding into a zone identified as having a potential negative influence on a World Heritage Site,’ said consultant Kristine van der Meer. ‘This would not be in keeping with their biodiversity and environmental principles.’

In order to extend its mining activities by two to five years, RBM applied in August to the Department of Mineral Resources to conduct prospecting at two new sites.

The Zulti North site – now abandoned – stretches between the current RBM lease area to south of Maphelane Nature Reserve. According to Van der Meer, the application for prospecting rights at Zulti South, situated south of the Richards Bay harbour entrance between the northern tip of eSikhaleni and south of New Mouth, continues.

RBM will submit comments as well as the Environmental Management Plan for the proposed prospecting activities on 15 December, an extended deadline following complaints.

‘This is still in the very early stages and far from a full EIA process,’ said Van der Meer. RBM can expect an equally volatile voice of objection to the proposed Zulti South prospecting.

Heavyweights including Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and the iSimangaliso Park Authority were joined by organisations WESSA, Coast Watch, ZEAL, Zululand Wildlife eForum, Wildlands Conservation Trust, Space for Elephants Foundation, Wildcall, Endangered Wildlife Trust and others in condemning even the thought of encroaching on habitats adjacent to pristine nature reserves.

By: Dave Savides
Source: Zululand Observer

A criminal investigation is under way by the Department of Environmental Affairs to determine whether Coal of Africa (CoAL)is involved in any illegal activities in Limpopo in terms of violating environmental laws or not.

The cultural arm of the United Nations, Unesco, on Saturday established new World Heritage sites in Sri Lanka and Hawaii, while adding an existing natural heritage site in Tanzania to the world’s list of [...]]]> Posted by: Saving Water SA (Cape Town, South Africa) – partnered with Water Rhapsody conservation systems – 02 August 2010

The cultural arm of the United Nations, Unesco, on Saturday established new World Heritage sites in Sri Lanka and Hawaii, while adding an existing natural heritage site in Tanzania to the world’s list of cultural treasures.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area contains fossil evidence of nearly 4 million years of human evolution

Meeting in Brasilia, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) voted to make Sri Lanka’s central highlands a natural heritage site. The high-altitude region is considered a super biodiversity hotspot.

The Papahanaumokuakea island chain of tiny islands and atolls, stretching nearly 2 000km north-west of the main Hawaiian Islands of the US, was declared both a natural and cultural heritage site.

The Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument is one of the world’s largest marine protected areas, while the region is considered to be the origin of life in native Hawaiian beliefs.

Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which has been on the list of natural treasures since 1979, was added to the cultural heritage list, too.

Including the world-famous Serengeti National Park and Olduvai Gorge, scene of some of the most important finds in pre-human anthropology, Ngorongoro holds an “extraordinary record of human evolution,” Unesco’s World Heritage Committee said.

Unesco has now registered 892 World Heritage properties. During its 10-day meeting, which concludes on Tuesday, the World Heritage Committee is considering 39 sites for World Heritage listings.

The highlands in south-central Sri Lanka include the Peak Wilderness Protected Area, the Horton Plains National Park and the Knuckles Conservation Forest.

At altitudes of 2 500m above sea level, the area includes habitats of endangered species such as the western purple-faced langur, the Horton Plains slender loris and the Sri Lankan leopard.

Papahanaumokuakea, the natural and cultural mixed site, “has deep cosmological and traditional significance” including as the place in native Hawaiian culture where spirits return in the afterlife, the heritage committee said.

The vast ocean region includes deep-water habitats, sea mounts, submerged banks, extensive coral reefs and lagoons.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which includes the eastern arm of the Great Rift Valley, contains fossil evidence of nearly 4 million years of human evolution until the early modern era, including famous discoveries by anthropologists Louis and Mary Leakey.

It has long been famous for its rich wildlife and the Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest caldera.

- SAPA

A massive study is under way to investigate the impact of toxic acid mine water and other dangerous sources of pollution to the world-famous Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site.

Australopithecus sediba was discovered [...]]]> Posted by: Saving Water SA (Cape Town, South Africa) - partnered with Water Rhapsody conservation systems – 18 April 2010

A massive study is under way to investigate the impact of toxic acid mine water and other dangerous sources of pollution to the world-famous Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site.

Australopithecus sediba was discovered two years ago.

It is here where the nearly two million-year-old hominid skeleton, Australopithecus sediba, was discovered two years ago, and unveiled to global wonder last week.

But in recent years, several scientists have slammed authorities for failing to protect ancient hominid fossils, including the Sterkfontein Caves. These are made of dolomite rock and vulnerable to acidic water from historic mining operations on the West Rand.

Peter Mills, the acting director of research and planning at the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, told the Saturday Star the management authority had commissioned the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and the Council for Geosciences “to understand the flow of water through the Cradle”.

As gold mines on the West Rand have ceased operating, the water table has returned to pre-mining levels, bringing with it a rising tide of toxic water, characterised by heavy metals and radioactive uranium, as well as high levels of sulphates.

Since 2002, more than 15 million litres of this acidic water has been decanting daily and flowing into the Tweelopie- spruit, through the Krugersdorp Game Reserve, into the Blaauwbankspruit which feeds into the Cradle of Humankind.

Some of it has been pumped and partially treated by the local mines, but large amounts continue to flow untreated into the system. And since another decant started in January, millions more litres pour out every day and pass through underground dolomite.

This week, the DA’s shadow minister of environmental affairs, Gareth Morgan, called on environment minister Buyelwa Sonjica to commit to addressing the unqualified volume of “untreated acid mine drainage (AMD) flowing in the Zwartkrans Compartment, which threatens the Cradle of Humankind and the drinking water of 11 000 people”.

Mills said the study, which will also probe pollution from farming, sewage and development, would be wrapped up by August.

“We know there is an impact of acid mine drainage

“The whole idea is to have a monitoring system in place… to understand the flow of water through the area.

“We can see what the surface water is doing but we have no clue what is happening underground. People say we aren’t doing anything but we never said AMD wasn’t a problem. We don’t know whether caves in the system are getting acid water where there are fossils.”

There is scant evidence that the existing set-up is threatening the fossils on the site.

“The World Heritage Site as 52 000ha of real estate is under threat from AMD but the actual fossil sites in that boundary, apart from Bolts farm, the AMD doesn’t appear to be reaching them.

We know AMD is reaching there (Bolts Farm). Again, we don’t know at what levels.

“What we don’t know and what the specialists don’t agree on is what the impact is. You have some specialists that say the acid water eats away at the dolomite but you get other just as reputable scientists who believe the deposits from the AMD actually seal the cavities and prevent cave genesis.

“When the water leaves the mine the pH is 3 (highly acidic). By the time it passes through the Krugersdorp Game Reserve, the condition is slightly improved and it gets diluted under heavy rains. A lot disappears into the aquifer. That is what everyone is concerned about because no one knows where it goes to. Some say it’s to the west of the site and some say it filters through.”

Garfield Krige, a water scientist who has led studies on the mine decant into the Tweelopiespruit, said the discovery of Australopithecus sediba will refocus attention on the AMD threat to the Cradle.

“The fossil find is the best thing that could have happened. It’s got everybody’s attention. Now maybe somebody will start to take notice of the plight of the Cradle of Humankind. The place is riddled with fossils in direct line of the AMD.

“A lot of plans have been made and money spent but nothing has happened… Don’t forget this was predicted in 1996. We’ve proved a tremendous amount of the acid mine water finds its way into the groundwater. We’ve proved the water has corrosive properties and eats away at the dolomite.”

He added the volumes of water flowing from the latest decant are so huge that the formerly-dry Rietspruit is now flowing constantly into the Blaauwbankspruit.

Ecologist Mike Buchanan believes the mines should stop pumping the water to allow the groundwater table to restore itself.

The AMD should then be laundered to drinking water standards before being sent back into the deep aquifer.

- Sheree Bega
Source: Iol

Millions of litres of highly toxic and acidic water will flow out of Johannesburg’s mines and swamp the city over the next two years, causing structural damage to buildings and severely affecting residents’ health.

Posted by: Saving Water SA (Cape Town, South Africa) - partnered with Water Rhapsody conservation systems – 12 March 2010

Millions of litres of highly toxic and acidic water will flow out of Johannesburg’s mines and swamp the city over the next two years, causing structural damage to buildings and severely affecting residents’ health.

Johannesburg. Toxic water will eat away at the city's steel foundations

Scientists predict that if drastic steps are not immediately taken to plug disused mine shafts and pump out the acid mine drainage, the poisonous water will flow into rivers and low-lying areas in the country’s most populous city at a rate of up to 70 megalitres a day – as much as 1400 average-sized swimming pools.

A joint report of the departments of water affairs, mineral resources and environmental affairs, dated March 2009, was commissioned by water affairs director-general Pam Yako after concerns raised by activist group Federation for a Sustainable Environment. It says the grave acid mine drainage situation in Gauteng:

- Poses a potentially “catastrophic” threat to Johannesburg residents. The toxic water will eat away at steel in the foundations of buildings in the city;
- Threatens to “potentially destroy the Cradle of Humankind” world heritage site; and
- As the acidic, polluted water contains heavy metals and salts, it will “pose a risk to human health … while also having a significant negative impact on the economy.

Mariette Liefferink, chief executive of the Federation for a Sustainable Environment, said long-term exposure to drinking water contaminated with acid mine drainage leads to increased rates of cancer, decreased brain function, and skin lesions.

Scientists say the toxic water will wreak havoc with the city’s water supply and affect farming along the Vaal River.

At the time the report was finalised, acid mine drainage levels stood at 900m below ground. Now, experts believe that it is less than 800m and rising at a rate of 15m a month.

Acid mine drainage levels used to be maintained by East Rand Proprietary Mines, which used to pump off and treat the toxic water from its southwest vertical shaft in Boksburg, on the East Rand. However, the company stopped pumping in 2008 after it was liquidated.

ERPM spokesman James Duncan said: “Pumping closed because the mine closed. ERPM had been in financial difficulty for some time.”

Now all those living above Gauteng’s Central Mining Basin – which stretches from Germiston in the east to Roodepoort in the west – will have to pay the price.

Professor Anthony Turton, of the University of the Free State’s Centre for Environmental Management, said the toxic water “will hit Johannesburg by January 2012. “This will be if we don’t have unforeseen rain. If we have more rain like we had in the past months, it will come sooner. It will flow out into the rivers,” he said.

Professor Terence McCarthy, of the geochemistry department of Wits University agreed: “It is probably rising faster now because of the rains we recently had. It is rising at about 15m a month, and it will leak across the full length of the Central Basin.”

The Central Basin is just one section of the Witwatersrand Gold Fields. Others include the Eastern Basin situated in the Springs area, the West Rand Basin around Krugersdorp, and the Far Western Basin around Carletonville and Randfontein. Mines in the Western Basin are already leaking acid mine drainage into rivers.

However, the report says that overflow from the Central Basin poses the greatest risk as it will threaten the “structural integrity” of Johannesburg’s buildings.

Structural engineer Professor Alakendra Roychoudhury, of Stellenbosch University, said there was a “strong likelihood” that buildings will eventually collapse.

“Acid is corrosive. All buildings with limestone in them will be in trouble. The subsurface underneath Johannesburg is limestone. There is a bigger chance that the subsurface will dissolve. Sinkholes will appear and the buildings will sink,” he said. “Steel structures will be affected, creating structural problems.”

Department of water affairs spokeswoman Linda Page said government and mining companies agreed on a public-private partnership to deal with the crisis.

The partnership will focus on pumping the water to a central point, developing new infrastructure and refurbishing that which already exists to collect and treat the water.

“The department acknowledges the seriousness of the threat … and is mindful of the urgency with which the matter has to be addressed. Once the proposed model has been signed off by all stakeholders, the feasibility study will commence,” said Page.

In the meantime, measures will be put in place to stop the toxic water from draining from the Western into the Central Basin.

“The issue is further complicated by the fact that some of the mines in the affected area are no longer operational or are ownerless, making it difficult to enforce compliance,” she said. “This requires that the state takes liability in the interest of the public, especially when the matter has to be dealt with as a matter of urgency.”

Jeremy Michaels, spokesman for the department of mineral resources, said: “The department is well aware of the serious nature and the scale of the problem of the surface and underground mine water quality and volumes in Gauteng, and has been working closely with the relevant government departments to address the issue.”

He said remedial measures are already being implemented.

Source: Times Live

Related articles: AMD emergency programme
Acid mine water flows into wetland

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is appalled at a state-owned mining company application to prospect on a number of landmark wine farms in the Cape Town and Stellenbosch municipal areas. This is the [...]]]> Posted by: Saving Water SA (Cape Town, South Africa) - partnered with Water Rhapsody conservation systems – 25 February 2010

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is appalled at a state-owned mining company application to prospect on a number of landmark wine farms in the Cape Town and Stellenbosch municipal areas. This is the latest example of a proliferation of poorly regulated prospecting activities within highly threatened yet unique biodiversity hotspots.

“The Cape Floral Kingdom – the world’s smallest and most diverse plant kingdom – is an international conservation priority with World Heritage status. Within this region the most threatened habitat is the renosterveld, of which less than 4% remains. The Tygerberg and Bottelary Hills contain some of the last remnants of this vegetation and it is here that African Exploration Mining and Finance Corporation wishes to mine,” says Inge Kotze, Project Coordinator of WWF’s Biodiversity & Wine Initiative.

“The South African wine industry enjoys global recognition as a forerunner in merging conservation efforts and sound environmental practices with wine production. Nationally, this industry is the first to collectively recognise and support the conservation of highly endangered habitats while adopting environmentally responsible farming practices within their production.”

“It is tragically ironic that an application to decimate biodiversity in a global biodiversity hotspot would be put forward during the International Year of Biodiversity. This is also the year in which we proudly showcase the natural splendour of the Cape Winelands to the world during the World Cup in an effort to promote wine tourism as one of the fastest growing economic drivers within the Western Cape” said Kotze.

The areas concerned all form part of landowner conservancies, established by leading wine farmers to conserve and promote awareness of the unique biodiversity in the region. These landowners have invested significantly in removing invasive vegetation and rehabilitating the area for the last decade, and were among the first to be recognized as Biodiversity & Wine members.

The state-owned mining company has applied for rights to prospect for tin, zinc, lead, lithium, copper, manganese and silver with an aim to re-open mines that were closed decades ago.

“Not only would mining in this area have a massive impact on the conservation of biodiversity, but it would also have major economic impacts on the booming wine tourism in the region, along with significant job losses on wine farms,” Kotze concluded.

Source: WWF

The Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Buyelwa Sonjica is concerned about the latest media reports that Coal of Africa has been awarded an unconditional New Order Mining Right (NOMR) near Mapungubwe in Limpopo.

Posted by: Saving Water SA (Cape Town, South Africa) - partnered with Water Rhapsody conservation systems – 20 February 2010

The Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Buyelwa Sonjica is concerned about the latest media reports that Coal of Africa has been awarded an unconditional New Order Mining Right (NOMR) near Mapungubwe in Limpopo.

Mapungubwe scenery. Photo by hannes.steyn

The Minister is concerned that with Mapungubwe being one of the 7 proclaimed World Heritage Sites in South Africa; this latest development could adversely affect its position. Mapungubwe has not only gained international importance, but stands as symbol for the highest honour in the country that is conferred by the State President for achievements in the international area which have served South Africa’s interests. The Order of Mapungubwe has four classes and has been granted to the former Presidents Nelson Mandela and FW De Klerk as well as other 23 recipients for the outstanding achievements.

The Mapungubwe National Park is situated approximately 7km to the West of the area earmarked for mining. As the oldest known large settlement in Southern Africa, and the precursor to Greater Zimbabwe, this site is of not only regional, but international importance.  This is why the area is not only designated as a National Park, but also a Trans-frontier Conservation Area, a World Heritage Site (WHS) and a Biosphere Reserve.

It is not known what the effect of blasting will be on the surrounding archaeological sites and graves. Tourism development in the Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape will be negatively affected by the 24/7 lighting, blasting and noise and may destroy the sense of place permanently, and with it, the sustainable job opportunities from tourism and tourism growth.

The Department of Environmental Affairs has requested the Department of Mineral Resources for a copy of the NOMR before deciding on the way forward in this regard.

Further, Minister Sonjica has decided to engage with the Minister of Mineral Resources, Ms Susan Shabangu, to look at the mining activities around not just Mapungubwe, but all environmentally sensitive areas.

Source: DEAT
Read – Mapungubwe coal mining licence granted