Mining companies eye the last unspoilt strip of the Western Cape’s west coast

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The last, relatively pristine section of the Western Cape coastline between the Olifants River and the Northern Cape border is threatened by two new mining-related applications.

Old rustic huts are still scattered over the Karoetjies Kop 150 farm coastal area. They are used by surfers and other travellers to the West Coast. Photo by Ant Fox

Nekwana Trading Enterprise Ltd ­wants the inland prospecting rights as it eyes the possibility of extracting heavy minerals, kaolin and gemstones.”, where numerous prospecting and mining applications and other development activities are individually approved by the government, without a proper assessment of their cumulative impact on the environment.

Sowman says an overall, long-term and strategic decision-making process to guide where and when human activities can occur in South Africa’s ocean areas is underway, as required by the Marine Spatial Planning Act, which came into effect in 2021. The company says mining already contributes to the economies of surrounding towns, such as Nuwerus, Bitterfontein, Lepelsfontein and Rietpoort, and it will attract foreign investment through transportation and beneficiation. It says it will improve social cohesion for local communities.

Proposed select target areas for new diamond prospecting, marked in red, at Karoetjies Kop 150. The yellow lines show old De Beers exploration trenches dating from the 1970s. Source: SRK Mining Ltd, Draft Basic Assessment Report and Environmental Management Programme.SRK Mining Ltd, based in Koekenaap, wants to prospect for “general” and “alluvial” diamonds on 296 hectares and the adjacent surf zone.

“The only land use [in the area] is uncontrolled recreational activities with ad hoc campsites during the crayfish season … The environmental impact will be the same as for the informal campsites,” argues SRK.

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Mining companies eye the last unspoilt strip of the Western Cape’s west coast | BusinessSRK Mining wants to prospect for diamonds and Nekwana Trading Enterprise wants to prospect for heavy minerals, kaolin and gemstones. | GroundUp_News
Source: News24 - 🏆 4. / 80 Read more »