Coal mine will turn Newcastle into ‘dust bowl’
● Farmers, community organisations and residents in Newcastle in northern KwaZulu-Natal have raised more than R300,000 for a legal fight against a proposed R30bn coal mine, which they say will reduce the town to a “dust bowl”.
The open-pit mine, proposed by Minetek Resources, is scheduled to operate 5km from the town’s CBD and less than 1km from urban housing, with an expected lifespan of 30 to 50 years.
The 3,269ha coal extraction project would affect several farms west of the town as well as the suburbs of Lennoxton, Amiel Park, Aviary Hill and Hutten Heights.
Using an assessment conducted by the mining company’s consultants, Cabanga Environmental, the objectors say the mine is a danger to their health, the environment and the town’s economy.
The report said about 131 huge trucks — 26 during peak hours — were expected to operate in the area every day. The trucks would pass less than 100m from Amiel Park and Hutten Heights.
The report found that an opencast approach would likely lead to a potentially significant loss of aquatic biodiversity, freshwater functionality and the provision of goods and services.
The objectors said that though there are other mines in Newcastle, they are further away from residents — an ArcelorMittal steel mine is about 13km out of town.
Mandy Austin of the nonprofit organisation (NPO) Save Serve and Protect Newcastle said the mine was too close to the urban area, posed serious health dangers to residents and would cause house prices to depreciate.
“Newcastle is a mining area and it’s not that we are against mining,” said Austin. “But this particular mine is too close to everything we need. We believe that mitigation strategies regarding air pollution won’t work considering the distance. Unfortunately, the mine is upwind from Newcastle CBD and urban housing, and the wind blows from the mine towards them. You can’t then tell me that people won’t get sick.”
She added that having a mine so close would turn the town and residential areas into a “dust bowl”.
Austin said the NPO met with mine representatives several times last year.
“They talk about blasting two or three times a week, and we can’t agree to that. Many houses are going to be affected. They will crack and there is no talk about who is going to fix them if they get damaged ,” she said.
She said the group had so far raised more than R300 000 for a legal objection to the mine.
Matthew Shunmugam, chair of the Newcastle Community Forum — representing the four affected suburbs — said the mine would also hurt the town’s investment prospects.
Brian Wilson, a local farmer and owner of the Grey Goose Game Lodge, said the mine would bring an end to his 30-yearold business and could see more than 65 employees laid off.
“People who book into our lodge will hear the blasting because they are so close. On our farm we have zebras, springboks, and a lot of other animals and birds. From the blasting and everything, dust and coal particles would blow towards the farm and the animals would eat the grass and die,” he said.
Minetek Resources said it held a prospecting right and had applied to convert it into a mining right. It said it followed the prescribed legislative process to obtain environmental authorisation, a waste management licence and mining rights.
The company said it had conducted a comprehensive public participation process since March 2023, with the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report submitted to the department of mineral resources & energy (DMRE) on November 30.
It said if the environmental authorisation is granted, interested parties will have the right to appeal the decision.
The company said 15 specialist studies to assess the potential noise, dust, air quality and traffic impacts had been undertaken as part of the EIA application. It said it was aware of objections but said some in the community support the project.
Lucky Shabalala of Sisonke Environmental Justice Network (SEJN) said: “The landowners are the ones disputing the mine. However, the farm dwellers are not against the mine. The farmers are just using the dwellers to exaggerate their dispute but they are just hindering job opportunities, development and other benefits for them and the whole town.”
However, Sizwe Ntuli, leader of the Siyakhusela Indawo Yethu organisation which represents the farm dwellers, disputed Sisonke’s claims.
Ntuli said the organisation represents 40 families living on four farms, including four families that would have to be relocated during the first phase of the mine’s rollout. It had joined residents, farmers and businesses in opposition to the mine based on research on the impact of other mines in the area.
“We saw the damage the mines have caused as those communities don’t have access to roads and clean water. We then took a decision and said we can’t allow that in our area,” he said.
The DMRE did not respond to questions.