CHAMBER OF MINES RESPONSE TO CERs REPORT: ZERO HOUR: POOR GOVERNANCE OF MINING AND THE VIOLATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS IN MPUMALANGA

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) defends its 'Zero Hour' report against criticisms from the Chamber of Mines, asserting that the report's findings on environmental violations in Mpumalanga are based on extensive evidence. The CER rejects the Chamber's claim that the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) has a proven track record of regulation, instead citing a 'consistent failure' in compliance monitoring and enforcement. The CER calls for increased transparency, better protection of strategic water source areas, and improved DMR capacity to prevent further environmental degradation.

• The CER defends the methodology of the 'Zero Hour' report, stating it was based on nearly a year of analysis including government research, Parliamentary answers, Promotion of Access to Information Act requests, site visits, and interviews with affected communities.
• The CER disputes the Chamber of Mines' assertion that the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) has a proven track record of regulating environmental matters, arguing instead that the DMR has consistently failed to perform effective compliance monitoring and enforcement.
• The CER reports that since the implementation of the One Environmental System (OES), there have been inaccurate interpretations of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) by DMR officials and a lack of enforcement regarding serious environmental law breaches by mining companies.
• The CER highlights ongoing issues with the granting of mining rights in protected areas and strategic water source areas, noting that the Mining and Biodiversity Guideline has not stopped applications in national parks, nature reserves, and World Heritage Sites.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (2016). CHAMBER OF MINES RESPONSE TO CERs REPORT: ZERO HOUR: POOR GOVERNANCE OF MINING AND THE VIOLATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS IN MPUMALANGA. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/160906-CER-reply-to-COM.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. CHAMBER OF MINES RESPONSE TO CERs REPORT: ZERO HOUR: POOR GOVERNANCE OF MINING AND THE VIOLATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS IN MPUMALANGA. 2016. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/160906-CER-reply-to-COM.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=CHAMBER OF MINES RESPONSE TO CERs REPORT: ZERO HOUR: POOR GOVERNANCE OF MINING AND THE VIOLATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS IN MPUMALANGA |date=6 September 2016 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/160906-CER-reply-to-COM.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centreforenvironmentalrights2016chamber, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{CHAMBER OF MINES RESPONSE TO CERs REPORT: ZERO HOUR: POOR GOVERNANCE OF MINING AND THE VIOLATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS IN MPUMALANGA}}, publisher = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, year = {2016}, month = sep, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/160906-CER-reply-to-COM.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }