Who and what is AfriForum?

AfriForum is an Afrikaans civil rights organisation that protects the rights of minority groups at national as well as provincial level, and anyone who can identify with AfriForum’s principles and objectives may join the organisation. AfriForum’s community plan focuses on mobilising communities to thus take control of their own streets and neighbourhoods again. AfriForum ensures that your constitutional and civil rights are recognised and protected at national level.

Wie en wat is AfriForum?

AfriForum is ’n Afrikaanse burgerregteorganisasie wat die regte van minderheidsgroepe op sowel nasionale as provinsiale vlak beskerm, en enigiemand wat met AfriForum se beginsels en doelstellings kan identifiseer, mag by die organisasie aansluit. AfriForum se gemeenskapsplan fokus daarop om gemeenskappe te mobiliseer om só weer beheer terug te neem oor hul eie strate en woonbuurtes. AfriForum verseker dat jou grondwetlike én burgerregte op nasionale vlak erken en beskerm word.

AfriForum: Parliament’s stance on mining approvals undermines environmental protection

Soundbite: Marais de Vaal (English)

Soundbite: Marais de Vaal (Afrikaans)

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Minerals and Petroleum Resources’ proposal to shorten timelines for environmental authorisations could, according to AfriForum, cause short-term economic gains to overshadow the impact of mining on the environment and communities. This would have disastrous consequences for water resources, agricultural land and the long-term well-being of rural communities.

This proposal was made in response to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy’s (DMHE) briefing on the progress with the implementation of the department’s new mining licensing and cadastre system through which mining rights applications are handled.

“The Committee’s call for quicker mining approvals, even if this weakens environmental safeguards, is remarkable given its refusal to confront the decade of dysfunction in the department’s South African Mineral Resources Administration system (SAMRAD). SAMRAD’s delays, unreliable data, double-granting of licences and corruption risks crippled transparency and held back investment. Parliament showed little urgency then, yet now places pressure on the only process that still subjects mining applications to proper scrutiny,” says Marais de Vaal, AfriForum’s advisor for Environmental Affairs.

The department’s claim that the new system will support “artisanal and small-scale mining” is equally concerning. The Mineral Resources Development Amendment Bill (2025) is still in the legislative process and public comments have not yet been considered, despite this the department treating the process as completed. This disregard for public participation confirms AfriForum’s warning that the bill risks enabling environmental destruction and corruption under the guise of formalisation.

“The Committee’s sudden frustration with environmental approval timelines is ironic,” says Marais de Vaal, AfriForum’s Advisor for Environmental Affairs. “The same lawmakers who accepted years of administrative failure now want to weaken the only process that forces the state to consider environmental and community impacts.”

“South Africa cannot afford a mining regime where environmental checks become a tick-box exercise,” De Vaal adds.

According to De Vaal poorly regulated mining is already destroying water sources, farmland and ecosystems that the poorest rural communities rely on. It threatens food security and natural resources, and imposes long-term costs on future generations.

“Proper environmental oversight exists to protect the public, not to inconvenience officials,” concludes De Vaal.

AfriForum will continue to oppose any move to undermine environmental authorisation processes. Communities are encouraged to strengthen local monitoring structures and to take part in all public participation processes. Members of the public can request AfriForum’s assistance in this matter at diens@afriforum.co.za.