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 asks DFFE and Sanparks to take a stance on flawed mining application at Kruger National Park

Soundbite: Lambert de Klerk (English)

Soundbite: Lambert de Klerk (Afrikaans)

AfriForum has raised serious concerns over the flawed environmental impact assessment (EIA) process related to Tenbosch Mining’s proposed coal mining right near the south of the Kruger National Park. In a letter, sent to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and Sanparks on 15 April, AfriForum warns that if this application – riddled with procedural and legal irregularities – is allowed to proceed, it may set a dangerous precedent for similar mining proposals in ecologically sensitive areas.

AfriForum, a registered Interested and Affected Party (IAP) in the matter, has identified multiple violations in the EIA process managed by Kimopax, the appointed environmental consultants. These include the exclusion of IAPs from critical communication, poor public consultation and insufficient consideration of the project’s environmental risks.

“The exclusion of key stakeholders, including AfriForum, from important communications is in direct contravention of public participation requirements under the National Environmental Management Act and principles of procedural fairness as set out in the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act,” says Lambert de Klerk, AfriForum’s Manager for Environmental Affairs.

In the letter, AfriForum has called on the DFFE and Sanparks to issue an official public statement outlining their stance on the mining application; launch a formal investigation into the procedural failures identified in the EIA process; and clarify how they plan to prevent future mining applications from bypassing proper environmental governance in protected areas.

While AfriForum is not opposed to responsible mining, it insists that all legal and environmental processes must be followed. The organisation has also indicated its willingness to pursue other legal remedies should this flawed application be approved.

“The integrity of South Africa’s environmental legislation is at stake. If flawed and incomplete EIAs are accepted, it sends a message that environmental compliance is negotiable. That cannot be allowed,” concludes De Klerk.

AfriForum has requested a formal response from the DFFE by 5 May and a meeting with relevant officials to discuss the matter further.

AfriForum letter_Kruger National Park mine Download