Mining plan threatens Hluhluwe-Imfolozi: group
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affair says it cannot yet confirm that it has received documentation from a group opposing the establishment of a mine on the border of the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park in Zululand.
The Imfolozi Community Wilderness Alliance made up of eight NGOs believes the establishment of a mine adjacent to the park will have catastrophic environmental and social impacts in the area.
A mining company applied to develop an open-cast coal mine in the Fuleni area last year.
The alliance's Sifiso Dladla says there are already two mines enclosing on the world renowned wilderness area.
He says the relocation of communities should never be taken lightly.
''We cannot relocate people without their [approval] and take away their land. Seven villages will be affected and one of those villages, [Nculwane] was relocated in the late 60s. Therefore, this would be relocating them twice in one generation - that would be unfair,'' he said.
The alliance said in a statement that it submitted 70-pages of comments on the draft Environmental Impact Assessment last month.
The department says its waiting for the final EIA report before moving forward on the matter.