The expansion of a mining project that cuts through a protected water system and a proposed wildlife migration corridor in North West province has been given the go-ahead by environmental authorities. The Federation for a Sustainable Environment (FSE), a group of community-based civil society organisations, has appealed the authorisation – arguing that “environmental decisions must […]
Pioneering Wildlife Corridor Collapses
A pioneering conservation plan to create a wildlife corridor linking the Pilanesberg National Park and the Madikwe Game Reserve appears to have collapsed because of mining and farming pressure in the North West Region.
Rand Water tightens the taps in Gauteng
In the Midvaal suburb where Sipho Mosai lives, the gardens are lush and green because the sprinklers run all day. There’s little sense of alarm at the fast-declining water levels in the Vaal water system after which the suburb is named.
Objection: Sedibelo Platinum Mine Water Use Licence
The Federation for a Sustainable Environment has objected to the Water Use Licence granted to Sedibelo Platinum Mine within the Moses Kotane Local Municipality, North West Province. An extract from the objection follows, and the full document is available to download.
Corruption seeps into South Africa’s R26 billion water project: report
Water affairs and sanitation minister Nomvula Mokonyane is in the cross-hairs of the Public Protector after delaying South Africa’s Lesotho Highlands Water Project, allegedly to award contracts to a company she has a long-standing relationship with. This is according to a report by the City Press, noting that the Public Protector will meet with Mokonyane […]
Water Quality Management Policies and Strategies
In response to the country’s need to take an improved integrated approach to Water Quality Management, the Department of Water and Sanitation has recently initiated a project to revise its current Water Quality Management (WQM) Policies and Strategies.
Boere soek hulp met water
‘n Dringende vergadering is onlangs in die EHS Landbou-akademie se saal gehou waartydens talle boere hul kommer oor die toestand van damme en riviere in the Hoeveldstreek en elders uitgespreek het.
Questions raised about govt’s approach to acid mine drainage
The Department of Water and Sanitation’s existing treatment programme involving pumping acid mine drainage out of the Witwatersrand basin and then partially treating the water by neutralising it will not assist in alleviating the challenge in the long term, says the Federation for a Sustainable Environment (FSE) CEO Mariette Liefferink.
Water scientist disputes NGO’s claim of Mintails’ criminal noncompliance
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Environmental risk analyst Dr Anthony Turton has vehemently denied claims by independent environmental organisation the Federation for a Sustainable Environment (FSE) that tailings extractor Mintails has not complied with the terms of its water-use licence (WUL) and other environmental requirements to the extent that makes it criminally culpable.
DWS is not compliant on AMD
Mariette Lierfferink, CEO of the Federation for a Sustainable Environment states that while the Department of Water and Sanitation alleges that the Acid Mine Drainage situation is no longer a reason for concern, the investigation report by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) adduces evidence to the contrary.