By Cynthia Moyo
Would you build a coal mine near a nature reserve? What about one that provides 15% of Pretoria’s water and is one of the largest peatlands in a protected area in South Africa?
That’s what a brick making giant (Corobrik) is trying to do. And the government has just approved their ‘environmental plan’ greenlighting an environmental assessment for their proposed mine near Rietvlei Wildlife Reserve.
Rietvlei Wildlife Reserve is home to thousands of different animals, endangered grassland and hundreds of bird species and the Rietvlei Dam is a critical water source within the reserve. According to an environmental consultant who knows Rietvlei well “The only way to truly protect the Rietvlei dam and surrounding nature reserve is to buffer around the reserve, protect it so that no one can ever mine.”
Sounds like the opposite of what is happening.
Gwede Mantashe, whose ministry this proposed mine needs approval from, must stop this project before it starts. And as Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy cannot ignore this issue either.
At a time when we need to be transitioning to renewable energy and protecting people, our climate and biodiversity this is a glaring example of what not to do.
We’re working with amazing community members and volunteers who are doing everything they can to stop this from happening – without them issues like this can go under the radar. This shows the power and importance of people coming together to do what’s right.
I’ll keep you updated; we won’t stop here. If an Environmental Assessment goes ahead, we’ll make sure everyone’s voices are heard and that this project will get the pushback it deserves.
Let’s do this!
