WHEN MINES BREAK ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS: HOW TO USE CRIMINAL PROSECUTION TO ENFORCE ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS

The document lists criminal offences and penalties for mining activities under several South African legislative frameworks, including the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act, the National Environmental Management Act, the National Water Act, and the Mine Health and Safety Act. It details specific violations such as operating without environmental authorisations, polluting water resources, and failing to ensure employee safety, alongside the corresponding fines and imprisonment terms.

• Under the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA), failing to manage environmental impacts according to an approved plan or programme can result in a fine of up to R500,000 or imprisonment for up to ten years.
• The National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) imposes severe penalties for commencing listed activities without environmental authorisation or failing to comply with the conditions of such authorisations, with maximum penalties of R5 million and/or ten years imprisonment.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (2013). WHEN MINES BREAK ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS: HOW TO USE CRIMINAL PROSECUTION TO ENFORCE ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Schedules-to-When-Mines-Break-Environmental-Laws-Offences-and-Penalties-Jan-2013.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. WHEN MINES BREAK ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS: HOW TO USE CRIMINAL PROSECUTION TO ENFORCE ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS. 2013. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Schedules-to-When-Mines-Break-Environmental-Laws-Offences-and-Penalties-Jan-2013.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=WHEN MINES BREAK ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS: HOW TO USE CRIMINAL PROSECUTION TO ENFORCE ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS |date=January 2013 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Schedules-to-When-Mines-Break-Environmental-Laws-Offences-and-Penalties-Jan-2013.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrights2013when, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{WHEN MINES BREAK ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS: HOW TO USE CRIMINAL PROSECUTION TO ENFORCE ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, year = {2013}, month = jan, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Schedules-to-When-Mines-Break-Environmental-Laws-Offences-and-Penalties-Jan-2013.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }