Question NW1808 to the Minister of Mineral Resources
27 September 2016 - NW1808
Schmidt, Adv H to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources
(1)Whether Atha-Africa Ventures has been issued with (a) a prospecting and/or (b) mining right and/or permit in Mabola, a proclaimed protected environment area close to Wakkerstroom in the Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality in Mpumalanga; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (2) whether the relevant (a) Environmental Impact Assessment and/or (b) Environmental Management Programme was undertaken before the specified rights and/or permits were issued; if not, why not; if so, what were the (i) results of the assessments and/or programmes undertaken and (ii) details of the public participation process followed; (3) whether the public participation process, as required in terms of the Minerals and Petroleum Resource Development Act, Act 28 of 2002, as amended, and its regulations were complied with in this regard; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW2116E
Reply:
1. A Mining Right issued on 28th June 2016.
2. (b) Environment Management Progrmme (EMP) was undertaken.
(i) The EMP provided an assessment on the potential impacts of the proposed mining activties, which therefore also provided measures to modify, remedy, control or stop any actions, or process which may cause pollution or degradation to the environment. Measures were informed by recommendations of the specialist reports undertaken amongst others, these includes, Floral assesment specialist report, Fauna assesment specialist report, Wetland assement specialist report, Air quality assement specialist report, Hydrological assesment specilist studies (Ground and surface water).
(ii) Public participation was undertaken with land owners, Organs of State, Interested and affected parties, through newspaper advertisement, site notices, meetings, distribution of Background information Documents (BID) to both interested and affected parties.
3. Details of public participation undertaken with land owners, Organs of State, Interested and affected parties, through newspaper advertisement, site notices, meetings with minutes, distribution of Background information Documents (BID) to both interested and affected parties. All interested and affected parties, land owners, were provided with opportunity to comment or raise concerns or objections. All comments, concerns and objection were addressed in the EMP in the form of mitigation measures.
Approved/not approved
Mr MJ Zwane, MP
Minister of Mineral Resources
Date Submitted:-………………/………………/2016