Xolobeni lies on the Wild Coast near the Wild Coast Casino and the struggle to obtain permission to mine Titanium in the dunes along 22 km of coast line has been long and arduous.
With the Department of Minerals and Energy having delayed their announcement on whether the mining can go ahead, the verdict was due in January, the SA Human Rights Commission has summonsed the ministers of Minerals and Energy as well as Environment and Land Affairs to appear on Tuesday.
The process of granting permission has been marred by accusations of intimidation by pro mining groups against eco tourism ventures and those lobbying against mining.
The Environmental Impact studies have again come under scrutiny as The Department of Environment has submitted material detailing flaws in the process and questioned whether the Department of Minerals and Energy can sign off and give permission without the go ahead from Environment.
The stakes are high in this process as the Wild coast is home to beautiful and rare forms of biodiversity existing hand in hand with extremes of poverty and unemployment.
Whether the mining venture will deliver on promises of upliftment and just how bad the environmental damage will be are topics being debated furiously. The people of the Transkei have waited a long time for this decision and it seems the wait will go on much longer.
Some useful links with more info can be accessed her.
http://www.witness.co.za/?showcontent&global%5B_id%5D=6567
http://www.swc.org.za/deat-objections-to-xolobeni-mining-proposal-on-wild-coast.htm
http://www.sabcnews.com/south_africa/general/0,2172,167847,00.html
http://blogs.dispatch.co.za/dispatchnow/2008/04/18/dune-mine-ministers-subpoenaed/
http://www.dispatch.co.za/article.aspx?id=194044
Justification for granting the rights to the mining venture
http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/news/n16_29102008.html
