The Cape High Court has issued an order confirming the interim interdict it granted in April, which bars prospecting for tungsten on two farms in Piketberg in the Western Cape, in South Africa. The interdict application was brought by the Bergrivier Local Municipality and supported by the communities.
The interdict demands the immediate halting of prospecting activities until the landowners apply to the Bergrivier Local Municipality to have the land rezoned according to the province’s land use planning ordinance. Some of the concerns that were raised by the coalition include the potential impact of the mining activities to intersect the drainage lines feeding into the Kron Antonies River. It has been mentioned that this impact could negatively affect agriculture and local water supply of the area. The applications to rezone the agricultural land for prospecting and mining activities normally takes long duration. In the meantime the local authority has been praised for halting the prospecting activities, the municipality has been appreciated by taking the meticulous manner to pursue the matter. It great to see that the local authorities with support from the voices from the grounds are making positive changes to the environment. There are similar prospecting cases like this in South Africa that needs positive initiative like this. How can we make sure that communities together with local authorities in other areas practice initiate like this?