annexure-7-19127bdadb17e0da.pdf

The Department of Water Affairs (DWA) expresses strong opposition to the proposed Yzermyn Underground coal mine in the Mpumalanga Region, citing critical risks to wetlands, water quality, and protected environments. The DWA identifies the project's location within a National Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Area as a "fatal flaw" and notes that the mine could cause significant groundwater contamination and the drying up of wetlands.

• The Department of Water Affairs (DWA) does not support the proposed mining development, identifying its location within the National Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Area as the "greatest fatal flaw of this site". The DWA warns that underground water reduction from de-watering and sulphate seepages from mining workings and discard facilities could impact wetland FERAs.
• The proposed Yzermyn Underground coal mine is located in endangered threatened ecosystems (Wakkestroom/ Luneburg) and is adjacent to the KwaMandamgempisi Protected Environment (KPE), with the target area situated approximately 800m from the KPE.
• The DWA identifies severe risks to water quality, noting that sulphate concentrations in the base flow of the Meawendiane River may exceed 2,000 mg/l in the long term, and concentrations near underground workings may exceed 2,500 mg/l, potentially creating a plume extending more than 2km down gradient.
• The DWA highlights significant gaps and contradictions in the project's environmental assessments, including a lack of quantified impacts on wetlands, missing surface water quality baseline data during the Impact Assessment, and conflicting reports on the surface infrastructure area, which varies between 30 ha and over 80 ha.
• The DWA notes a conflict between the mine's economic claims and the existing local economy, which supports approximately 400 jobs through eco-tourism. Furthermore, the DWA points out that most mine employees would likely come from outside the Area of Direct Influence due to a local lack of skills, meaning the mine would offer "litle or no economic benefit for the loca area without skis development".

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). annexure-7-19127bdadb17e0da.pdf. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Annexure-7.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. annexure-7-19127bdadb17e0da.pdf. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Annexure-7.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=annexure-7-19127bdadb17e0da.pdf |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Annexure-7.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrightsndannexure719127bdadb17e0dapdf, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{annexure-7-19127bdadb17e0da.pdf}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Annexure-7.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }