‘Keep your mines, we’re farmers’ – Message from Vaal protesters to Sandton coal mining company

A small group of concerned community members from the Vaal triangle journeyed to Sandton CBD on July 12, where they demonstrated peacefully against a proposed coal mining operation in their area.

The protesters comprised an ensemble of members of the Springfield and Vlakvontein Coalition Committee, and the Extinction Rebellion (XR) Vaal chapter. The small group peacefully represented the effects that they felt Glubay Coal mining operations would have on their environment.

The protesters spread out into three groups: two flanks holding banners, and a party all dressed in black ceremonial robes – with a woman laying on the ground beside a small coffin, made for a child.

XR spokesperson Mduduzi Tshabalala read their memorandum of demands before handing it over to Menar Capital’s COO, Clifford Hallatt. Menar Capital is Canyon Coal’s holding company, of which Glubay Coal is a subsidiary.

The procession came a long way to voice concern over a proposed coal mining project in their community, situated within the Vaal triangle. Their memorandum identifies the region as an air-quality priority area. They demand that Glubay Coal install air-quality, noise-pollution-quality, water-quality, and vibration monitoring equipment; as well as readily share the data they gather with the community.

Further demands were made towards preserving agricultural spaces, and Glubay Coal refraining from blasting near key civilian infrastructure, like medical facilities and schools, and that Glubay maintains the community’s road infrastructure within a 10km radius of the mines.

Tshabalala stressed that among the communities’ concerns was water, and how open-cast mining is expected, by members, to impact underground boreholes – which are diversely depended on by local farms, and households. Tshabalala also lamented a threat to farming jobs that would be lost, fearing that not everyone stood to benefit from mines rolling into town.

“Although we have a coal mine in Lethabo, only a few community members are working in mines; not everyone in Vaal, especially from my area, is equipped with skills to work in the mines,” Tshabalala said. He reiterated that while Glubay was proposing 550 jobs, he wasn’t sure how many people working on the farms would be affected. “I might not be sure about the numbers, but there’s a whole lot of farms where I come from; we farm, we do permaculture.”

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Menar corporate communications manager, Siphiwe Tame, said, the protesters raised concerns that the Sukuma (Springfield) coal mining project, being managed through Canyon Coal’s affiliate entity, Glubay Coal, poses potential environmental harm.

“The company is dedicated to responsible mining and would never embark on a project without following due process to ensure that the environment is protected,” Tame said.

Tame highlighted that the environmental impact assessment, and environmental management programme, were currently in the final phase before being submitted to the Department of Mineral Resources. Also, there are proposed mitigation measures set to be implemented to reduce the risk of contamination to downstream receptors, such as ongoing monitoring, concurrent backfilling of discard below the static groundwater level, implementation of the stormwater management plan, as well as passive treatment options, such as engineered wetlands, to assist in the removal of heavy metals.

“None of the specialist findings have so far suggested that the relocation of surrounding residents will be required,” Tame said, affirming the company’s commitment to contributing to the area’s job market. “Current economic activities in the area will continue in parallel with the proposed mine. In other words, the mine will add to existing jobs. Moreover, the company looks forward to positively impacting the economy through the Sukuma project by promoting job creation, and implementing social and labour plan projects.”