However, environmentalists are hoping that a favourable judgment might also force the government to implement a comprehensive strategic assessment of the cumulative impacts of mining in this region, both on land and offshore, before approving more mines.
The current court challenge – brought in the Western Cape High Court by non-profit environmental justice advocacy group, the Centre for Environmental Rights and supported by expert witnesses – challenges the decision by the department of mineral resources and energy to grant environmental authorisation to Australian mining company Mineral Sands Resources to massively expand its current 120-hectare Tormin beach mining operation near Lutzville, without having to apply for a new mining right or...
In late September, the Centre launched its three-part high court review and rescind application against the current minister of environment, Barbara Creecy, as well as minister of mineral resources Gwede Mantashe and his department’s Western Cape regional office.set aside Creecy’s rejection of its appeal against the DMRE’s environmental authorisation for Tormin’s expansion plans;
“The precautionary principle has not been properly applied as required. Climate change and cumulative impacts have not been taken into account.” “Only then would a decision-maker be in a position to fully assess the net effect of the various activities and impacts and the mitigation required to ensure that developments do not exceed acceptable environmental limits.”