OBJECTION TO MINE

Peace Parks Foundation objects to the planned mine next to the Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site in the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area.
Objection to mine | GMTFCA - Mining License Applications and Prospecting Activities [© 2010 Peace Parks Foundation]
A stakeholder group consisting of the Association of Professional Archaeologists, Birdlife South Africa, the Endangered Wildlife Trust, the Mapungubwe Action Group, Peace Parks Foundation, the Wilderness Foundation and WWF South Africa is opposing the development of the proposed Vele coal mine and Mulilo power station in the eastward expansion area of the TFCA, directly adjacent to Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site. These entities are objecting to all industrial activity in this part of the Limpopo Valley without an integrated regional development plan that will take all costs to and benefits for the region into account.

Objection to mine | News/Vele.jpg [© 2008 GondwanaStudio.com]Objection to mine | News/Vele2.jpg [© 2008 GondwanaStudio.com]

The latest news on the efforts by this group is here. The first news reports are here and here.

Should you be interested in a copy of the appeal or the interdict application, kindly contact us.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

The Endangered Wildlife Trust and Peace Parks Foundation, together with other interest groups, have instructed the Centre for Applied Legal Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa to institute legal proceedings to review the granting of the mining right and to take appropriate steps to seek to prevent, in the interim, any activity that may cause significant and irreversible harm to the environmental integrity of the area.

Funds will have to be raised to support the litigation. This is likely to be a test case for mining activity in this area, and it is critical that the litigation is supported by sufficient funding. Additional funds also will be required for specialist reviews, an advocacy and media campaign, and various administrative costs.

To this end, the Endangered Wildlife Trust and Peace Parks Foundation have set up a cost code for any and all legal expenses related to the intended development of a coal mine near the Mapungubwe World Heritage Site.

If you would like to assist by contributing to this fund, kindly click on the PDF for a list of our banking details. Kindly quote 'VELE' as reference. At all times, please feel free to contact us regarding your donation.

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A secure on line payment could also be made by clicking here. You could also do so by clicking on DONATE NOW on the left menu - Important: Please then click on Vele Coal Mine in the drop down menu. Kindly note that Givengain charges a transaction fee for online payments. Details of the fees are contained in the following PDF.


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For a list of other options of how you could become involved, including by signing a petition, please visit the Save Mapungubwe website.

Should you wish to become a member of the Mapungubwe Action Group, kindly contact Mr Paul Hatty.

We will ensure that all relevant information and updates pertaining to the case will be communicated to you should you wish to become involved.

Thank you for your participation in this critical issue.