Protect The West Coast (PTWC) welcomed a legal ruling in early February 2021 against Mineral Resources Commodities Limited (MRC) and Mineral Sands Resources Limited (MSR).
MRC is a Western Australian mining company; MSR is a South African subsidiary of MRC.
The Cape Town-based environmental Not-For-Profit Company (NPC) was formed to oppose increasing mining operations by MRC and other companies on the West Coast of South Africa.
“This ruling is a major coup for the environment and its protection, and we plan on using it to put more pressure on both the government and the miners by bringing more factual information into the public domain,” said Mike Schlebach, the driving force behind PTWC.
“By doing this, we will encourage better oversight, accountability, and alternatives.”
“Many of MRC’s mining activities in South Africa would not be allowed on their home turf in Australia, and we are quite confused as to why its shareholders and the good people of Australia are allowing this.”
Since its formation in November 2020, PTWC has made significant inroads towards its cause, rapidly gaining support in South Africa and internationally, including from top Australian professional surfer Belinda Baggs and Hawaii’s John John Florence, two-time world surfing champion.
“Many of MRC’s mining activities in South Africa would not be allowed on their home turf in Australia,” adds Schlebach.
“We are quite confused as to why its shareholders and the good people of Australia are allowing this.”
Mining has become a common practice on pristine beaches and offshore areas of South Africa’s West Coast.
The industrial activity is restricting public coastal access, causing devastating environmental damage, and negatively affecting local communities.
The problem is not new and has been going on for several decades.
Nevertheless, the pressure of multinational mining companies on natural resources has been increasing fast with the support and approval of local and national authorities.
According to PTWC, there are numerous new mining applications in the pipeline and widespread concerns about the effect of their operations on the environment.
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