Tendele Mine near Somkhele, KZN
The Mfolozi Community Environmental Justice Organisation(MCEJO) and Mr Sabelo Dladla (the late Mr Gednezar Dladla’s son) have submitted an internal appeal to the Director-General of Mineral Resources against a decision made by the Regional Manager, KZN, to grant a mining license to Tendele Coal Mining at Somkhele for a new mining area in excess of 220 square kilometres.
The grounds of the appeal are that the expansion of this open cast coal mine on the border of the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park will result in unacceptable pollution, ecological degradation or damage to the environment; that no environmental authorisations have been issued for any part of the 21 233.0525 hectare mining right area; that there has been no consultation with interested and affected parties; and there is non-compliance with the KwaZulu-Natal Heritage Act and National Heritage Resources Act.
The applicants have also requested that the mining right be suspended pending the outcome of the appeal.
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