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.

New plans proposed for mine on Kruger National Park’s doorstep, old role players resurface

ByAfriForum 22/02/202622/02/2026

Soundbite: Lambert de Klerk (English)

Soundbite: Lambert de Klerk (Afrikaans)

AfriForum was informed that a new mining application has been submitted for an underground coal mine on approximately 5 500 ha bordering the southern parts of the Kruger National Park. The organisation is currently studying the application to evaluate the process as well as the possible environmental, social, and economic impact.

Tenbosch Mining and Kimopax Consulting, the environmental company involved in the previous application, are also involved in this new application. The previous application requested an area of approximately 6 500 ha, but the application was withdrawn in December 2025 following public pressure. The previous application raised several questions about the public participation process followed and complaints about inadequate communication. There was also criticism about the quality and handling of the environmental impact assessment.

AfriForum calls on the relevant authorities to apply strict oversight and ensure full transparency in order to maintain environmental standards while considering any application that is so close to one of the country’s most important conservation areas.

According to Lambert de Klerk, AfriForum’s Manager for Environmental Affairs, this new application must be carefully considered, especially since the old role players, Tenbosch Mining and Kimopax Consulting, are involved. “The threat to the environment remains the same. AfriForum will ensure that all legal and public participation processes are properly followed. We will act decisively to protect the Kruger National Park and the surrounding communities, as well as the local agriculture and the tourism economy, from any development that could cause irreversible damage.”

The organisation also calls on the public to register as an interested and affected party with Kimopax Consulting if they will be directly or indirectly affected by the proposed mining application.