PTWC Special Report Part 4: The Problem with the Public Participation Process
In the fourth part of our series of excerpts from the Protect the West Coast (PTWC) Special Report ‘The Tipping Point’, we unpack the Public Participation Process (PPP), which affects South African prospecting and mining applications. PPP is governed by the controversial 2014 One Environmental System (EOS), which is designed to fast-track all environmental authorisations into a single process. However, although it appears robust on paper, the PPP contains flaws that undermine its effectiveness, such as a lack of transparency, a lack of meaningful public involvement, and poorly researched or absent documentation.
PTWC announces plan to create Africa’s first World Surfing Reserve on the West Coast
A collaboration between Protect the West Coast (PTWC) and the community of Elands Bay to apply for World Surfing Reserve status was revealed last week at the Save The Waves Film Festival in Cape Town. The designation provides for the protection of the ‘surf ecosystem’ and the environment and community around it, with measures to ensure responsible development that safeguards marine biodiversity, subsistence fishing, indigenous culture and ecotourism. Included is the vitally important Ramsar-listed Velorenvlei Estuary that feeds into the ocean at the surf spot.
PTWC Film ‘Out of Mined’ continues to make waves around the world
The Protect the West Coast (PTWC) film ‘Out of Mined’ continues to make an impact around the world and at home in South Africa, including the Richtersveld in the Northern Cape, whose Nama community features in the film as one of the worst affected by mining on the West Coast. The film, which was recently screened in Sanddrif, sparked an impassioned debate by community members about how to protect their heritage. ‘Out of Mined’ has also been selected for global film festivals, and will screen at major international conferences, such as the San Diego Climate Week in October.
PTWC appeals 32,000 hectare Trans Hex West Coast offshore prospecting authorisation
Protect the West Coast (PTWC) has filed an appeal against a recent Environmental Authorisation (EA) granted to Trans Hex Heavy Minerals Mining to prospect on the seabed off the West Coast, alongside 10 co-appellants, including two government entities. As part of Trans Hex’s broader strategy to expand mining operations into offshore environments, multi-commodity prospecting will run for five years and the EA allows for more than 4,500 samples in six marine concessions – 11A, 12A, 13A, 11B, 12B, and 13B – over roughly 32,000 hectares (ha).
