AENS

mapungubwe aerial 1..Aerial photos taken a few months ago show the destruction that has already taken place. To go with Vele Colliery in Limpopo story. 010910 PHOTO: Nick Hiltermann/AENS

Bloomberg and Dineo Matomela

A TEAM of experts from the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) would visit the Mapungubwe World Heritage Site in Limpopo to assess the impact of coal mining in the area, the Save Mapungubwe coalition group said yesterday.

Peace Parks Foundation chief executive Werner Myburgh said he was concerned about the lack of vision in managing mining of coal in South Africa. “A team of (Unesco) experts arrives at Mapungubwe this week to assess the impact that the Vele mine might have on the famous Mapungubwe World Heritage Site.”

Coal of Africa Limited (CoAL), an Australian mining company, stopped certain construction activities at its new Vele coal mine after receiving a compliance notice from the Department of Environmental Affairs in August.

The mining site is situated less than 6km from the Mapungubwe National Park where the famous 800-year-old gold rhino statuette from an early civilisation was unearthed in 1933.

“Coal mining at Vele would lead to other developments that would further encroach on the national park, a World Heritage Site, and the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area”, said Myburgh. “If 300 60-ton trucks are right on the edge of the national park, there’s no doubt that it will significantly impact on future tourism development.”

It is alleged that the company had not completed the necessary environmental impact assessments.

“The whole area sits on a coal seam and, if mining goes ahead, it will create a precedent for other applications to be granted… this would spell the end of the trans-frontier conservation area, the cultural history and the magnificent beauty of the area.”

Myburgh said the park would make a more significant contribution to the country’s economy than a “short-term capital injection with a 29-year life-span”. He added: “What is missing from (previous) assessments is the very real loss of long-term jobs in other more sustainable sectors such as agriculture and tourism.”

The Minister of Mineral Resources, Susan Shabangu, was expected to deliver a decision on CoAL’s mining right at Vele next month, Myburgh said.