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.

Withdrawal of mining application on Kruger’s doorstep a sweet victory, but Department’s silence still troubling

Soundbite: Lambert de Klerk (English)

Soundbite: Lambert de Klerk (Afrikaans)

The withdrawal of Tenbosch Mining’s controversial application to establish a coal mine next to the Kruger National Park is, according to AfriForum, a victory for the country’s largest national park, nature conservation and the community. However, the civil rights organisation emphasises that the absence of a formal notification in this regard from the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) is still a cause for concern, as a previous withdrawal of the same mining application in 2023 was later continued in a dubious manner.

Kimopax, the environmental consultant acting for Tenbosch Mining, informed AfriForum in December that the relevant mining rights application had been withdrawn, that it was not being considered further and that all processes related to the application had been terminated at the DMRE.

In response, AfriForum’s lawyers requested the DMRE on 17 December 2025 to formally confirm whether the application had indeed been withdrawn. However, the Department has not yet responded to this request. In its letter to the Department, AfriForum pointed out, among other things, that if the application had indeed been withdrawn, any similar future applications would have to be started anew (or de novo) in terms of relevant legislation.

A second letter was sent to the Department earlier this month, again requesting written acknowledgement and confirmation of the withdrawal. AfriForum’s lawyers further placed it on record that if no response was received within a reasonable time, the conclusion would be drawn that the application had indeed been withdrawn and that the Department had accepted the withdrawal.

“AfriForum welcomes the withdrawal of this mining application. It proves that sustained public pressure and careful investigation into the legality of applications as such are bearing fruit. In contrast, the Department’s failure to confirm the withdrawal of the application in writing is not only indicative of poor administration but it also undermines transparency, public trust and the integrity of environmental management. Communities deserve certainty, not silence,” says Lambert de Klerk, AfriForum’s Manager for Environmental Affairs.

According to AfriForum, it is critical that the Department formally confirms the withdrawal of the application, especially since the application was already withdrawn in 2023 and then continued in a dubious manner. This is despite the fact that legislation stipulates that an application must be brought anew in such a case. Despite these clear instructions, the application was continued at the time and only a few interested and affected parties were notified of the continued application.

AfriForum is currently monitoring the matter and is ready to act decisively if any related application is submitted again.