Concern over iMfolozi deal

Ezemvelo agreement criticised

ADEAL signed between Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and a mining company, which allows it some exclusive rights to a conference centre in the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park (HiP), has come under fire.

Critics argue that the multifaceted deal blurs the lines between what the body is meant to do in terms of conservation, and what big business wants.

Ezemvelo recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with sand-dune mining company, Richards Bay Minerals. Part of the deal has RBM contributing R3-R5 million to upgrade part of iMfolozi’s Hilltop camp to build a conference centre, to be called ‘RBM Corner’.

In return the facility will be for the exclusive use of RBM for part of the year, but the public will be able to use it for the rest of the year.

According to Ezemvelo, in the 10-year agreement is “community upliftment, conservation education and environmental collaboration”. RBM agreed to finance Ezemvelo’s soccer and netball tournament for R1.5m a year, to be named the “Ezemvelo RBM Cup”.

There is concern over the vagueness of the information released to date. No details, models or plans of the proposed construction have been released and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has not been done. However, Ezemvelo says there is no need for an EIA as it will be a renovation.

Environmental lawyer Jeremy Ridl said, “The MoU deal is supposedly that Ezemvelo will guide and coach RMB in conservation matters. But Ezemvelo already has the statutory mandate to get involved in EIA and planning processes.

“Similarly, RBM is obliged by the Mining Charter to have a social responsibility programme and to support communities around their mines. You don’t need an MoU to do what you are obliged to do by law. There is something very fishy about this deal.

“As for the RBM Corner that is proposed, it is not Ezemvelo’s function to be in competition with private enterprise, which is what such a conference centre would be. It diverts attention and resources away from conservation.

“It’s detracting from its core function of conservation which, as it is, Ezemvelo is not doing very well. It’s wasting money on hospitality and their hospitality side is already running at a loss.

“Also, I don’t believe Ezemvelo can oppose a mining application if it is on RBM’s payroll. This is a great deal for RBM, but I don’t see what Ezemvelo will get out of it. On the basis of what has been disclosed to us, this MoU makes no sense. There has got to be something else, and they owe us an explanation.”

Replied

Ezemvelo replied to written questions, saying that RBM would pay for an 80-seater conference centre. The costing had not yet been done, it said.

“The property will remain the property of Ezemvelo. The fees received from the use of the conference centre will go to Ezemvelo. RBM’s presence in the park will include public education on mining and rehabilitation. The project does not require an EIA as it is purely renovation of the existing facilities. Given the age of the buildings, a heritage authorisation is required and Ezemvelo has already applied to Amafa for this,” he said.

Ezemvelo said there was nothing unusual about the deal as the Kruger National Park already had facilities funded by the public sector.

Ezemvelo said: “There are currently no specific projects that will be funded through this partnership. The communities will first identify projects that they want us to assist on. … Ezemvelo helps such com- munities to prepare a business plan (for) various approving structures.

“The MoU provides the platform for Ezemvelo to identify (ecologically sensitive areas) and make them known to RBM before the formal EIA and mining application process is initiated.

“The benefits of this are that key biodiversity areas are avoided upfront, allowing Ezemvelo to concentrate on mitigation and amelioration proposals in the EIA process.

“From an RBM perspective, this would reduce conflict in the EIA process and may provide for a quicker authorisation which is good for both them and the economy.”

A Daily News request to have a copy of the MoU has been denied by both Ezemvelo and RBM.

Ridl said, “Ezemvelo is an organ of State and they are obliged to disclose any documents to the public. They have no legal right to withhold such documents.”

Environmentalist Wally Menne, who fought RBM’s attempt to mine in the St Lucia wetlands, said: “The critical thing is that this ‘deal’ will set a bad precedent for the corporate takeover of other protected areas in the future. It is the ‘thin edge of the wedge’.

“Because of this MoU, Ezemvelo will certainly lose its impartiality as the body responsible for protecting the natural environment in KZN. Their enforcement staff will be compromised in any future situation where needing to take action against RBM for transgressing environmental laws.

“This is a one-sided arrangement designed to give RBM cheap publicity at the expense of Ezemvelo’s independence... ,” he said.

Sheila Berry of the Global Environmental Trust said: “While Ezemvelo’s focus on benefiting neighbouring communities is supported, it is highly questionable whether RBM is the best business part- ner to assist with this.

”Entering into an agreement with RBM... sets a worrying precedent. Inevitably it opens one to having to do favours in return.”

An opposing view came from the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa. Garth Barnes, director of conservation, said: “Wessa does support strategic, sustainable partnerships that seek to further the aims of conservation in SA. Wessa is confident that Ezemvelo will remain objective in carrying out its mandate as a commenting authority and a strong voice for conservation in the country.”

Sponsorship

Wessa itself is under fire for taking a R56 000 sponsorship from the Tronox group earlier this year, at the time they were campaigning against the company’s proposed sand-dune mine in Mtunzini.

A well-known conservationist, who asked to remain anonymous, said, “Mining is today the biggest threat to the environment in KZN, and the country as a whole. One has to set strict conditions to donations; it is a bit like dancing with the devil.

“There is currently a standoff between the Department of Environmental Affairs, on one hand, and the Department of Minerals and Energy. The environment department is pushing for ‘no-go zones’, the assurance that some areas of high ecological value will be protected, and that no mining concern will get a prospecting licence in those areas.”

RBM chose not to respond directly to the environmentalists’ criticisms. Earlier RBM’s general manager of corporate communications, Fundi Dlamini, denied that the donation was intended to extract any favours in the future. The two parties had “a lot of opportunities and common interests in terms of first, the environment, and second, ecotourism”, Dlamini said.