At the centre of the case are three farms being eyed by Somerset West-based Bongani Minerals Ltd for its proposed mine. The farms are in the heart of the Moutonshoek valley near Piketberg, within the boundaries of the Moutonshoek Protected Environment , proclaimed by Western Cape environment MEC Anton Bredell on 25 May 2018 under the National Environmental Management Protected Areas Act.Enjoy a two-hour surfing, rock climbing or mountain biking experience in Cape Town worth R1500 for only R799.
The beautiful Moutonshoek valley near Piketberg where Bongani Minerals wants to excavate a massive opencast tungsten mine In an application to the Western Cape High Court, Bongani Minerals wants to have Bredell’s proclamation of the Moutonshoek Protected Environment reviewed and set aside. It is also asking for a court order to force the owners of the three farms to allow its staff, environmental experts and any of its agents access to the properties so that they can complete studies required for the adjudication of a mining right by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy .
There are another 130-odd farms or farm portions covering almost 35,000ha within a ten kilometre radius of the proposed mine, including three that are adjacent or very close to it and that are owned by another major commercial farming company, the Karsten Group, based in Kanoneiland west of Upington along the Orange River.
Applying for condonation of the lateness of the application, Lionel Koster, director of Bongani Minerals, declares in his founding affidavit that Bongani only became aware of the proclamation shortly before 30 November last year [2022].