Relief in Rustfontein as would-be miner exits

Pretoria - The community of Rustfontein near Bronkhorstspruit can again breathe a sigh of relief after another company that applied for prospects to mine coal in the area pulled out.

Over the years, the area has been inundated by prospecting companies that applied to the Department of Mineral Resources to mine coal.

Farmers said the rush to prospect for coal in the area started when construction on the Kusile coal-fired power station began.

The last application was lodged by a company called Venatrix (Pty). About 80 percent of farmers in a 20km radius of Bronkhorstspruit were affected, saying the village’s existence is under threat. Farmers and residents decided to fight back by writing numerous petitions to the company and the department.

Before Venatrix, the last company that applied for rights did so in 2014 but disappeared without trace or feedback. Before that, there were two more prospecting companies that also disappeared.

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A letter written to the department, seen by the Pretoria News and written by Thabang Khomo, a director of Venatrix, said the company was withdrawing its application.

“We, Venatrix (Pty) Ltd, would like to notify the department that we withdraw our Prospecting Right application.”

Rustfontein is home to rescue horses, organic food gardens and pristine wetlands.

Local landowners said prospecting would decimate endangered species and destroy the local economy. Farmers said natural springs would either dry up or be polluted with acidic mine water.

Complaints also ranged from health to pollution and a lack of sustainable jobs.

Had the department granted Venatrix the prospecting rights, they would have drilled holes on the farm, took samples and determined whether there are possibilities for mining. Only then, could they apply for mining rights.

The community argued that the public consultation was flawed as they had not been properly informed about the application, nor had affected landowners been met in person to discuss the matter.

In the area there is also a “dream village” in the making - Jochebed Children’s Village. Sheldon Oosthuizen, operations manager, said the village’s existence was threatened by prospecting. “We are ecstatic that the prospecting company has pulled out. But we are also wary that the same problem might occur later.”

Oosthuizen said they would be forging ahead with their plans of building a children’s sanctuary. “I saw the whole idea as destructive and invasive. They were totally going to destroy the environment if they started mining in this pristine area. We cannot raise children in a polluted environment and our security here will be at risk,” Oosthuizen said.

Once completed the village will cater for orphaned, abandoned and neglected children from Rustfontein and will provide them with a holistic upbringing.

So far, R25 million has been invested in the construction of the children’s village. Finally African Blessings, a charity, started construction on 16 cottages to house almost 100 children, an early childhood development centre, social workers’ offices and teachers’ quarters. The village is expected to be completed by November next year.

sakhile.ndlazi@inl.co.za

PRETORIA NEWS