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.

Flawed Kruger mining application may pave the way for more dubious projects

The submission of Tenbosch Mining’s environmental impact assessment (EIA) for a proposed mining project on the outskirts of the Kruger National Park could, according to AfriForum, set a dangerous precedent for similar dubious applications in the future. AfriForum maintains that Tenbosch Mining’s application process has been riddled with irregularities, particularly in relation to the Interested and Affected Parties (IAPs) and the overall public participation process.

AfriForum is a registered IAP on this application and has identified multiple procedural errors in the way Kimopax, the environmental assessment practitioners (EAP) responsible for the EIA, conducted the process. Some IAPs were excluded from certain communication, while other parties were engaged. Such conduct undermines the legal requirements for transparency and meaningful public participation as outlined in the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 (NEMA).

“The submission of this flawed application to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) paves the way for more dubious mining proposals in ecologically sensitive areas. If an application riddled with errors and public consultation failures can proceed, what’s stopping other mining companies from trying the same tactic?” says Lambert de Klerk, Manager for Environmental Affairs at AfriForum.

AfriForum will now call for the position of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) on this application, as well as on similar mining proposals in protected and environmentally sensitive regions. It is crucial that DFFE provides clarity on how they intend to safeguard these areas from destructive and irregular mining applications.

“This is not just about one mining application – it’s about protecting the integrity of South Africa’s environmental laws. If the DMRE approves an application riddled with errors and procedural violations, it will put across that our environmental laws and regulations are merely a formality rather than a safeguard against environmental destruction,” De Klerk warns.

AfriForum is not opposed to mining but emphasises that applications for mining licences and environmental authorisations should be done by due process.

If Tenbosch Mining’s application were to succeed, AfriForum is ready to bring a review application.