In the fifth part of our series of excerpts from the Protect the West Coast (PTWC) Special Report ‘The Tipping Point’, we take a closer look at the controversial ‘One Environmental System’ (OES), South African mining’s environmental authorisation regime. The
The legal team at Protect the West Coast (PTWC) has raised serious concerns about the apparent lack of scientific rigour and specialist qualifications in applications prepared by some Environmental Assessment Practitioners (EAPs). Tasked by the mining industry to compile documents
Protect the West Coast (PTWC) was invited in late October to participate in a panel discussion at the 2026 National Wetlands Indaba in Langebaan, under the theme of ‘Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge’. The panel discussion featured Steve Pike of PTWC
Protect The West Coast is dedicated to informing and empowering civil society to stand against unjust mining activity on the West Coast. We believe in wielding the power of legal action to hold companies and the government accountable. We inspire a deep connection to the region’s biodiversity and cultural heritage.
From the Orange River to Cape Columbine, hundreds of kilometres of the South Africa’s West Coast coastline are being mined, or have been earmarked for mining. These industrial-scale extractions have lasting consequences for local communities, fisheries and the natural environment, for generations to come.
Donate, fundraise, volunteer and share on social. We are looking for all the help we can get. So, please assist us in protecting this magical stretch of coastline that thousands of plants, animals and people call home.
Our goals for 2026/27 are to:
Mining, despite providing limited short-term economic benefits, adversely affects ecosystems and has a much larger detrimental knock-on effect on the broader West Coast environment, economy and society over the long term.
There are scores of prospecting and mining applications, as well as numerous active mines, along the West Coast.
One Ocean Hub (OOH) researchers at the Environmental and Geographical Science Department at the University of Cape Town (UCT) have developed a much needed integrated project to monitor, document and map all applications for prospecting and mining, including oil and gas exploration, on the West Coast of South Africa.
Since PTWC’s inception, and through the work we’ve done tracking these applications, it has become apparent that there’s been a sharp rise in applications for prospecting and mining for heavy mineral sands and diamonds in the region, as well as for oil and gas exploration and production. These activities have raised significant concern among coastal communities and their social partners.
