12-f99d03b7f1e2742e.pdf

This report by the Centre for Environmental Rights reviews the Integrated Water Use License Application (IWULA) and the resulting Integrated Water Use License (IWUL) for the proposed Yzermyn Underground Coal Mine. It identifies significant gaps in specialist studies regarding groundwater, hydrology, and wetlands, arguing that the IWUL was issued without sufficient information to mitigate environmental impacts. The document also includes a Socio-economic Impact Assessment and a Social and Labour Plan (SLP) detailing employment targets, skills development, and community impacts.

• The Integrated Water Use License (IWUL) issued on 7 July 2016 (License No. 05/W51A/ACFGIJ/4726) covers multiple water use activities, including groundwater abstraction from supply wells CBH2D and CBH3S, and the discharge of treated excess wastewater into wetlands.
• The IWUL is criticized for lacking express mitigation measures; instead, it incorporates specialist reports by reference without reconciling their recommendations or listing them specifically.
• Specialist reviews concluded that the groundwater assessments were inadequate, failing to assess the impact of production boreholes and the potential for post-closure pollution plumes from the mine void.
• The wetland assessment was found to be insufficient because it relied on desktop studies rather than field delineation and failed to account for the 5m drawdown predicted to impact all wetlands above the underground mining area.
• The hydrology assessment is based on outdated information and failed to delineate a flood line Exclusion Zone as required by GN 704.
• The proposed mine is situated in a threatened ecosystem, and the review found that no mitigation measures have been assessed that are likely to prevent the impact on this ecosystem.
• The Socio-economic Impact Assessment identifies a high level of vulnerability for farm tenants on Yzermyn Farm, who live in traditional Zulu homesteads with no municipal services and rely on social grants and farm work.
• One specific homestead (the Mkhubu family) located 500m from the proposed adit entrance is identified as facing unacceptable risks from vibrations, dust, and noise, leading to a recommendation for resettlement.
• Employment projections for the mine include approximately 70 opportunities during the construction phase and up to 576 employees during the operational phase.
• The Social and Labour Plan (SLP) outlines a comprehensive skills development strategy, including Adult Basic Education and Training (ABET) targets and a budget of R228,000 for combined internships and bursaries.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). 12-f99d03b7f1e2742e.pdf. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/12.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. 12-f99d03b7f1e2742e.pdf. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/12.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=12-f99d03b7f1e2742e.pdf |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/12.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrightsnd12f99d03b7f1e2742epdf, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{12-f99d03b7f1e2742e.pdf}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/12.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }