XSTRATA – VERKEERDEPAN EXTENSION

The document details a case where the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) approved a mining right for Xstrata South Africa (Pty) Ltd despite the fact that wetlands occupy 51% of the 1385 ha area. Key issues include the failure to provide the final EMP for public comment, the lack of consultation with land claimants, and the DMR's decision to grant the right despite clear objections from the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Authority (MTPA). The EMP acknowledged that damage to wetlands would be "irreparable" and failed to address pollution from final voids.

• The Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) approved a mining right and Environmental Management Programme (EMP) for Xstrata South Africa (Pty) Ltd in 2010, despite the high environmental sensitivity of the site where wetlands cover 51% of the 1385 ha area, including 618ha of hillslope seepage wetlands, 27 ha of pans, and 55 ha of valley bottom wetlands.
• The approval process was marked by a failure to provide the final EMP to Interested and Affected Parties (I&APs) for comment due to MPRDA time constraints, and land claimants under investigation for the properties were not consulted.
• The DMR granted the mining right despite strong and clear objections from the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Authority (MTPA), raising concerns about co-operative government and the application of statutory criteria.
• The project's EMP admitted that the resulting damage to wetlands would be irreparable and failed to provide solutions for pollution originating from the final voids created by mining activities.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). XSTRATA – VERKEERDEPAN EXTENSION. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Xstrata-Verkeerdepan.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. XSTRATA – VERKEERDEPAN EXTENSION. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Xstrata-Verkeerdepan.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=XSTRATA – VERKEERDEPAN EXTENSION |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Xstrata-Verkeerdepan.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrightsndxstrata, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{XSTRATA – VERKEERDEPAN EXTENSION}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Xstrata-Verkeerdepan.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }