PTWC makes significant impact in 2024; announces strategic goals for 2025
Protect the West Coast (PTWC) has published its Annual Impact Report 2024, outlining the organisation's achievements in 2024 and its strategic goals for the coming year. In the four years of its existence, PTWC has consolidated its role as a vital oversight organisation that unites stakeholders to hold to account the West Coast mining industry and the government entities that are meant to regulate them.
In 2024, the growing impact of PTWC led to the expansion of our team of legal experts and scientists, while internal structural changes beefed up our productivity to tackle important advocacy work, in particular our Legal Accountability Programme.
Building on our success to stop Trans Hex mining in the Olifants Estuary in 2023, this programme enabled us to expand our legal scrutiny to several other mining companies.
Our PR and media coverage continued to bring much-needed attention to mining threats on the West Coast, with coverage in Al Jazeera English, Surfer Magazine (US), and local outlets such as Daily Maverick and Cape Talk, among several others.
Thanks to a relaunched website and major focus on our social media channels, PTWC’s growing digital presence saw a significant increase in traffic to our website and social media profiles, with tens of thousands of active followers and exceptionally high engagement rates.
Highlighting awareness through sports and tourism, our annual Run West event continued to encourage a deeper connection to pristine parts of the coast that have survived, and raise funds for PTWC, while our association with West Coast Way and the Tand Invitational bodyboarding event drew local and overseas attention to our cause.
After protests at a mine on the West Coast and on Cape Town beaches to highlight how mining restricts public beach access, we launched Ripl, an innovative digital Public Participation Platform that allows anyone with a smartphone to easily comment on, or appeal, all new mining applications.
In 2024, PTWC deepened its support for activists and mining-affected communities by attending the MACUA summit, backing the Richtersveld land claim, engaging in global forums such as the IMMCC7 and ELA Conferences, and partnering with groups such as WWF, Birdlife SA and several others.
The flyover not only showcased the beauty that we are protecting but also the devasting destruction the coastline is experiencing. Image: Jacque Smit.
In a first-of-its-kind project, PTWC partnered with renowned conservation photographer and gyrocopter pilot Jean Tresfon to reveal the impact of mining along the West Coast from the air. We also launched an interactive mining map – a powerful tool to track mining activities in the region.
Building on its first place in the Mining Category at the Mail & Guardian Greening the Future Awards 2023, PTWC was again nationally recognised for its impact by winning Gold in the Community Category at the 2024 Eco-Logic Awards for leadership in community-driven conservation.
Internally, following our Strategic Summit on the West Coast in late 2024, PTWC optimised its resources and staff strengths by adopting new technological tools and hiring younger staff members, to increase our impact in 2025.
Finally, we commenced filming of our second movie, with renowned local filmmaker Arthur Neumeier of Eyeforce films, Out of Mined, which will be completed mid-2025.
2025 Strategic Goals
In 2025, our main areas of focus will be to:
Continue as a Legal Watchdog: PTWC aims to maintain its critical legal oversight by monitoring existing mining sites through our Legal Accountability Programme, while scrutinising and challenging new applications through Ripl. Acting as a legal bulwark, we will ensure that West Coast mining companies are held accountable.
Expand Ripl: We aim to enhance Ripl’s technological functionality and effectiveness in commenting on mining applications, with the goal to drive widespread adoption through local community engagement and accessibility.
Build on Community Engagement: PTWC will launch an educational programme, continue to work with leaders in mining-affected communities to offer assistance and communication tools, identify social needs and alternative economic opportunities, and work with allied NGOs and organisations.
Continue Government Lobbying: PTWC will advocate for a mining moratorium to prevent ad hoc application approvals, and a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of all mining activity to create effective legal oversight and space for economic alternatives.
Create Effective Storytelling: We will continue to expand our coverage of unethical and socially and environmentally damaging mining via our website, social channels, PR, local and international media coverage and media projects, including with our film, Out of Mined.
Create a Scientific Programme: We will expand our scrutiny of environmentally damaging mining on the West Coast via detailed research by scientific experts, which will contribute to our analysis of mining applications on Ripl, as well as website articles and focused Special Reports.
Promote Sustainable Alternatives: PTWC will continue to explore and work with Nature-based Solutions (NbS) such as those offered by our partners SeaH4, an algae-to-biofuels startup that aims to create thousands of jobs. We will build on working with sustainable fishing and sports and eco-tourism partners.
“In 2024, PTWC achieved significant milestones in conservation, legal advocacy, and public awareness,” said PTWC MD Mike Schlebach. “Our work in protecting fragile ecosystems from harmful developments has gained momentum, and we have successfully strengthened our collaborative networks. From key legal interventions to on-the-ground research and community engagement, we remain steadfast in our mission to preserve the natural and cultural heritage of the West Coast.
“Looking ahead, we are committed to deepening our impact. Key priorities remain to strengthen our financial sustainability, expand our scientific research capacity, and grow our legal advocacy. We recognize that this requires collaboration, and we invite all our stakeholders to join us to shape the future of PTWC.
“A heartfelt gratitude goes to our advisory board, legal and scientific experts, funders, and the passionate individuals behind us. Together, we will continue to protect the West Coast for generations to come.”
Download or view the PTWC Impact Report 2024 below:
Critical flaws in the initial Public Participation Process (PPP) for a Prospecting Right by Richwill Diamonds (Pty) Ltd on a 412 hectare portion of the farm Karoetjes Kop (No.150) near Koekenaap have led the authorities to mandate the reopening of the application for public comment. Protect the West Coast (PTWC) has also observed several other shortcomings in the application documentation. PTWC urges you to sign up as an Interested and Affected Party (I&AP) to comment on and object to this application at www.ripl.co.za by 19 May.
A sign of deep underlying issues with mining governance in South Africa has arisen with the news that the High Court of South Africa has placed the owner of the controversial Tormin mine, Mineral Sands Resources (MSR), under provisional liquidation. This follows a tumultuous decade of controversy, lawsuits, appeals and accusations of illegal mining activity at the inoperational heavy mineral sand mine just north of the Olifants River mouth. Protect the West Coast (PTWC) has expressed concern about how the 245 hectare (ha) mine will be rehabilitated after several cliff slumps and collapses; degradation of coastal dunes and loss of biodiversity – allegedly caused by a contravention of environmental management plans.
