Tribute to Wally Menne

By Sheila Berry A week ago, on Thursday 26 October 2017, one of KZN’s most dedicated and well-known activists, Wally Menne, unexpectedly passed away.  His sad death, at 66 years old, leaves a huge void. He is survived by his wife, Rose Williams, Director of Biowatch, and three sons, Adam, Robus…

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Invitation – Lake St Lucia Restoration

Below is an invitation to attend an information session on the work being done to improve the hydrological and ecosystem functioning of the Lake St Lucia system. This system is hugely dependent on the inflow from the Mfolozi river which will be severely affected if the Fuleni Anthracite Project is…

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Coal mine meeting is off!

By Tony Carnie The much-anticipated public showdown over the controversial coal mine next to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi game reserve has been called off until further notice. The meeting, originally scheduled for Monday morning at KwaMbonambi, was cancelled yesterday by public participation and environmental consultants acting for Ibutho Coal. The purpose of the…

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Demolition sticker outrage

This article appeared in the Mercury on Tuesday 28 April, 2015 By Tony Carnie RURAL villagers on the boundary of Africa’s oldest wilderness area are outraged after finding “demolition stickers” on their front doors – apparently placed there by a mining company that wants to dynamite giant coal pits underneath…

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Coal mine will blast peace for thousands near game park

This article appeared in the Mercury on Wednesday, 18 March 2015 By Tony Carnie Life will never be quite the same for several thousand people next to Africa’s oldest game reserve and wilderness area if a massive new coal mine is blasted open underneath or next to their homes. A…

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Amended Scoping Report: GET attorney to ask for rejection of scoping report

On 3 March 2015, the amended Final Scoping Report for the Fuleni Anthracite Project was made available to us. The Scoping Report is, once again, lacking in many respects. These aspects will be dealt with in a letter sent to the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, KZN…

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Player’s legacy for SA parks

This article appeared in the Daily News on January 12, 2015. By Vivien van der Sandt When the life and work of the late great conservationist Ian Player is held on 14 January, he will be remembered for his successes in saving the rhino species and establishing the iMfolozi and St…

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Impact study for proposed coal mine rejected

This article appeared in the Witness on 17 October 2014 By Elise Tempelhoff THE KwaZulu-Natal department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs has rejected the impact study for the proposed Fuleni coal mine. The mine is mooted on the border of the Hluhluwe–iMfolozi nature reserves. Spokesperson for the Save…

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Business Day: iMfolozi coal mines raise concerns

  THE coal, sand and mineral mines of KwaZulu-Natal — including illegal operations — have long worried environmental groups, who cite destruction of ecologically sensitive areas like St Lucia and the iMfolozi reserve on the North Coast. Provincial and national government have the power to act. But, say environmental activists,…

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The Guardian: Mining poses new threat to world’s greatest rhino sanctuary

Plans for an opencast coalmine on the boundary of South Africa’s Hluhluwe-Imfolozi reserve could pave the way for even greater poaching and pollution The surface of a pool near the Imfolozi river ripples as a white rhino, its young calf close by, lowers its mouth to drink. Rhinos have roamed…

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