Report on the site visit of the West Rand goldfields by Dr Marcos Orellana, the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights
The UN Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights, Dr. Marcos Orellana visited South Africa from 31 July to 11 August 2023. The Federation for a Sustainable Environment (FSE) was requested by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in support of the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur, to conduct, on the […]
The FSE hosted a site visit of the West Rand goldfields
Site visits of the West Rand goldfields were facilitated and conducted on 2 August 2023 by the FSE with the UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights, Dr Marcos Orellana and his team, and members of mining affected communities of the West Rand goldfields as well as representatives of Benchmarks Foundation, and two of […]
Illegal mining can have devastating impact on ecosystems | IOL opinion piece by Mariette Liefferink
A few weeks ago, 31 illegal miners died after a methane gas exploded in a mine in the Free State. Last Friday, 17 people died after a gas leak explosion in an informal settlement in Germiston. It is reported that illegal miners were busy processing gold when the gasexploded. The Federation for A Sustainable Environment […]
The FSE recently did an environmental tour of Sibanye-Stillwater’s Rand Uranium operations with the University of the Witwatersrand
The FSE again conducted a successful environmental tour of the West Rand gold fields with Prof Mulala Danny Simatele (Professor of Environmental Management and Sustainability Science; The Global Change Institute & School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies of the University of the Witwatersrand) and Honours, Masters and Doctoral Students of the University of the […]
Regulations enable miners to bypass closure duties | Mining Weekly
“While local mining regulations imply that a well-structured process needs to be followed for mine closure in South Africa, environmental organisation Federation for a Sustainable Environment CEO Mariette Liefferink argues that the current regulatory framework enables miners to circumvent closure duties…” Read the full article here.
FSE’s Comments on the Tharisa Environmental Management Programme , Environmental Authorisation and Waste Management Licence Amendment
Comments available below.
FSE facilitates a tour of the West Rand AMD treatment plant with a group of Trinity House students
The FSE facilitated a visit to the West Rand and the West Rand AMD Treatment Plant on the 1st of December 2022 for Grade 11 learners and two teachers from Trinity House and supplied the learners with academic and governmental reports on AMD. The attached poster was published by Tristan Brooks, Stuart Cloete, Amy Govender, James […]
The FSE’s comments on the Reclamation Application of 4L39 Tailings Storage Facility within Ekurhuleni by Ergo
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The FSE’s comments on the TCTA’s attached press statement on the central basin
It was foreseen that there would be challenges with the current short term treatment of AMD within the Western, Eastern and Central Basins. The Department of Environmental Affairs granted exemption for the construction and operation of the High Density Sludge Plants in the Western, Eastern and Central Basins and the discharge of neutralised AMD (in […]