Climber cheated out of Everest dream
deposits in the Kruger National Park. What will we do? We’re setting a dangerous precedent.”
Fourie agrees. “There is a reason why the department has had to answer robust challenges and criticism from the portfolio committee. The approval of this coal mine in a protected environment and a water source area is simply indefensible.”
The DEA says the committee’s view is “regrettable”.
“The department (does) not use a one-size fits all approach with regards to environmental authorisations, and every case is considered on its own merits.”
But Angus Burns, the senior manager of WWF-SA’s land and biodiversity stewardship programme, disagrees.
“My concern is that with this kind of authorisation having been granted to a mining house that has no record of mining in South Africa, in one of the most sensitive locations you can possibly find, will open a floodgate of applications in protected areas.”
Fourie says it’s unfortunate that Molewa and her department continue to repeat the “inaccurate statement” that Atha’s mining right application was essentially an application for renewal of mining rights, as the prospecting rights for the area were previously held by BHP Billiton until 2011.
“In law, a prospecting right does not give the holder of that right an entitlement to a mining right, and the granting of a mining right is most certainly not a renewal of a prospecting right. This area was declared a protected environment before the mining right was awarded to Atha.
“Atha was one of a number of mining companies that objected to the proposed dec- laration… none of these mining companies took any legal action to challenge the declaration.”
The department, says the CER, sets out the various licences required for mining but neglects to recognise Molewa was authorising mining in a protected area, “not just anywhere.
“The same applies for the ‘mitigation measures’ listed by the department.
“The department ignores the fact that every single approval given to this mine by regulatory authorities – on which the minister says she relied when giving her approval – is under appeal, or subject to judicial review proceedings.
“The various legal challenges under way will soon reach our courts, and then the court will decide whether the minister’s actions comply with her constitutional obligations to protect environmental rights.” FRIENDS of Saray Khumalo received their first message from the mountaineer two days after she had to be airlifted off Everest to a medical facility in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Khumalo’s brief WhatsApp message yesterday afternoon read: “Hi all, thank you so much for all the love and support.
“I didn’t summit but she was what I expected and more. I still thank God for the opportunity and experience.
“Looking after my sunburn and frostbite for now. See you all soon.”
This was Khumalo’s third attempt to reach the top of the world’s highest mountain but on Wednesday she experienced difficulties.
According to a WhatsApp post, Lloyd Scot Hudson, who was in hospital with her said that Khumalo told him that she fell and struck her face and in the process lost her glasses.
She was just 100 metres from the top but was suffering from frostbite as well.
“She had to be evacuated from Cape Two to Kathmandu,” said her friend Sarieta Schultz.
Khumalo was supposed to have began her summit attempt a day earlier, however, was prevented from doing so by high winds.
The climber’s first attempt to reach the roof of the world was in 2014, which had to be abandoned when an avalanche killed 16 Sherpas.
A massive earthquake in Nepal put an end to her second attempt the following year.
Besides her Everest attempts, Khumalo has climbed other high peaks over the last five years such as Kilimanjaro, Mera Peak and Lobuche East in Nepal, and Elbrus in Russia.
The highest peak was Aconcagua in Argentina, which is 6 980m.