A long-standing battle over the expansion of a coal mine has deeply divided a rural KwaZulu-Natal community between those who stand to benefit and homeowners who are set to lose their land and livelihoods from farming.
Somkhele residents have vociferously opposed the removal of people to make way for the mining of anthracite coal under their ancestral land by the Tendele coal mine owned by Petmin.
The mine has established that three more villages – eMahujini, Ophondweni and eMalahleni – have rich anthracite coal deposits and intends to commence mining.
However, 139 families have to be moved for the mine to begin drilling to access an estimated 1.2-million tons of hard coal.
In a sudden change of heart this week, some residents in the village of eMalahleni under the Mpukunyoni tribal authority dumped environmental campaigners.
Induna Bonganjalo Mkhwanazi told Sunday World the community has agreed to give the mine a chance. “We had a meeting this week where a majority of the residents agreed that we cannot let the mine go. It will spell disaster for our area.
“The mine is the heart of our local economy. People have been deceived by those who do not care about their livelihoods. But we are happy that they now see the light,” said Mkhwanazi.
Another mine expansion proponent Xolani Nzuza representing the affected communities of Ophondweni and eMalahleni explained that while there are still some villagers who are against the mine, there was consensus that expanding the mine’s life will be for the greater good.
“The funny part about this story is that the white-controlled NGOs pushing for a just transition agenda and for the mine to pack and go have no alternative on how locals will sustain themselves. We live in a poor area where every job counts. The residents have agreed to put jobs before the sponsored litigation.”
But those opposing the mine painted a different picture, saying they are being hounded to give consent.
“The local leadership is threatening us to sign the agreements. Our march to the mine offices to hand over a memorandum this week could not go on because we were blocked by armed men.
“We were told they know our homes and we will be visited and killed,” explained a community member who did not want to be named for fear of victimisation.
“The mine must stop the relocation process until discussions about fair compensation for relocation have been discussed.”
This week, residents embarked on a protest to stop the mine from commencing work.
Kirsten Youens a lawyer who has brought litigation against Tendele on behalf of the Mfolozi Community Justice Environmental Organisation denied the villagers dumped environmental activists.
“The community is divided. The beneficiaries, those on Tendele’s payroll the employees, contractors, temporary contract workers and traditional leaders, obviously want the mining to continue and the residents who will suffer from losing their land, grazing, livelihoods, having graves exhumed, loss of water resources, etc, don’t want the mining at all,” Youens said.
The Pretoria High Court has ruled that Tendele should halt operations until proper consultation has been concluded, including conducting the environmental impact assessment afresh.
More than 225 families have been relocated since mining operations started in 2007.
“The mine likes to refer to them [and us] as environmentalists as if we are all putting the environment before the people. But without land and water, the people cannot survive, especially as the mine is offering only 100 jobs,” said Youens.
Opposition to the mine has already claimed the life of community activist Fikile Ntshangase who was shot and killed at her home. It is believed she was refusing to relocate.
The mine is said to be the source of employment for 75% of the locals while also benefitting local small entrepreneurs doing business with the mine.
