Mining in Mabola: The slow violence of environmental degradation
This battle has involved extensive court action, including eight distinct pieces of high court litigation, one case going to the Supreme Court of Appeal and to the Constitutional Court.At present, an interdict has been granted to halt the mine from starting operations, pending the outcome of many of these court challenges. One of those challenges aims to set aside the decision of the MEC to cut the four properties out of Mabola.
The challenge is to find alternative means by which communities are offered meaningful long-term socioeconomic opportunities within the context of the preservation of natural resources. This means that conversations should start around livelihood alternatives to extraction. If the permissions stand, South Africa will be contributing to an alarming global trend which is resulting in the downgrading, downsizing and degazettement of protected areas to pursue narrow and destructive short-term interests related to mining, ranching and oil and gas exploration.If, however, the permissions to mine are set aside, South Africa will be boldly acknowledging the critical importance of long-term environmental sustainability.
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