Sheree Bega
Steenbokpan, where Greyling and her family farm game, along with their ever-dwindling neighbouring landowners, who are being pushed out by mining firms.
Standing near the 4 800MW plant under construction, Greyling recounts the five coal-power stations, each with its own mine, on the cards for Lephalale. “Someone has to take a stand ... You can only describe it as a coal rush.”
That’s how the town’s mayor, Moloko Maeko, woos investors. “It has the potential to become the future hub of power generation in South Africa, a vibrant city… situated at the heart of the Waterberg coalfield. This coalfield is estimated to contain between 40% and 50% of South Africa’s remaining coal reserves.”
Nicole Loser, an attorney at the CER, who represented the ELA , explains how increased mining and coal-fired power in the Waterberg is part of the government’s plan. “This is despite not only the significant health and climate impacts of coal-fired power but the significant shortage of water in the area.
“We remain optimistic the Thabametsi judgment will halt or at least deter coal projects in the area, especially given that renewable energy is a cheap, reliable and clean alternative with massive potential.”
Eskom is re-applying for postponements of pollution standards it was legally required to meet in April 2015 for Medupi, and Matimba, and which will become stricter on April 1 2020.
“This non-compliance with the law will expose the people impacted by Medupi and Matimba’s emissions to extremely harmful sulphur dioxide pollution (linked to respiratory illnesses and chest problems) for an even longer period,” warns the CER. “This will be made worse by the numerous other planned industrial developments for the area.”
An assessment of ambient air pollution in the Waterberg priority area 2012-2015, by a team of researchers from the SA Weather Service an the CSIR, released this January, says Lephalale “may already be facing air quality problems prior to the initiation of the major planned developments”.
“The air quality is ... expected to only get worse,” offers Rico Euripidou, an environmental health campaigner at groundWork.
While this report finds that the ambient concentrations of sulphur dioxide are low in the Waterberg air priority area, it finds a “hotspot” of emissions in Lephalale, which “corresponds to the location of the Matimba power station and the Grootgeluk coal mine (run by Exxaro)”.
In Marapong, Francinah Mokawe rests against the wall of her small house, as she feeds her 7-month-old great-great grandchild, Boikanyo. A hat covers her creased face.
Matimba power station is a few minutes walk away. “I’ve lived my life but I worry about this pollution affecting my grandchildren,” says the 70-year-old. “You try to plant tomatoes, they won’t grow. At night, you can’t breathe.”
Her neighbour, Josephina Sabina, agrees. “I developed asthma in 2013. All this coal is making us sick. Right now there is no smell. At 5.30, you are hit with it. If you take a white cloth and hold it up in the air, it will be covered with black or grey dust soon.”
Eskom’s own 2006 commissioned health report that it was forced to release in 2014 showed how sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter concentrations from Matimba “are estimated to be responsible for around 80% of premature mortality and around 50% of respiratory hospital admissions predicted”.
It revealed that when Medupi is operational, health risks would double, putting 144 to 300 people in hospital with respiratory illness. In November 2015, a CSIR study on the environmental health implications of mining, including air quality in Lephalale, found that “additional mining activities will increase air pollution and thus potentially also respiratory diseases, especially among sensitive age groups (children and the elderly)”.
Greyling tells how at a recent meeting of the World Bank, which provided the $3.75 billion loan for Medupi and Kusile in Mpumalanga, Eskom “paraded all its good deeds”.
“This included fixing this road, giving money for a clinic, and building houses. But they neglect to mention the roads would be in a much better position had they not come here. We wouldn’t need a bigger clinic or a huge HIV programme… They’re fixing a minuscule part of the mistake they created.
“And for them,” offers Lekalakala, “that’s a very big contribution to the community. They don’t take any responsibility.”
For Greyling, part of her battle is about saving the Bushveld she loves – and protecting her children. Her daughter’s asthma has worsened in the past five years. “They (Eskom) had the audacity to build Medupi in the middle of my road. I live in the bushveld because I chose to. This is the most beautiful piece of earth you can find. It’s harsh, tough, but it’s pretty and thankful. Here, you see the world grow. You hear it flourish. This is where you see what creation is like.
“There’s nothing worth giving this up for. No money. No power. As the people of Lephalale, we’re being disadvantaged because we’re living in paradise.”
For Lekalakala, hers is about climate justice. “What drives me is to reverse the injustice to the environment, and to the people that’s denying them their livelihood, their water and finally, extinguishing them from this area. We can’t continue with these polluting activities that exacerbate climate change.”
Hardus Steenkamp, who farms near Medupi, tells how his European clients complain of the polltuion. Some boreholes are drying up, and cement dams are exploding because of the impact of mine explosions.”
Greyling and Lekalakala don’t want Limpopo to be “irreversibly damaged” from mining like Mpumalanga has been.
“If we fight, we can stop some coal developments. There’s still bush to be saved, air to be saved, land to be saved, people to be saved… Bad things happen when good people do nothing.”
“The bush can’t speak for itself, it needs us to fight for it,” concludes Lekalakala.