BLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NUMBER 1052
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 25 MARCH 2011
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NUMBER 9)
1052. Mr E J Marais (DA) to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources:
(1) What is the current situation regarding a certain company's
(name furnished) nearly completed Vele mine close to the
Mapungubwe Heritage Site;
(2) whether any vehicles used in this mining operation will be
allowed into environmental sensitive areas; if so, why;
(3) whether she and the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs
have agreed to the areas where no mining and prospecting
licenses can and will be issued; if not, (a) why not and (b)
when will these areas be agreed upon; if so, what are the
relevant details? NW1170E
REPLY
(1) The mine has been temporally suspended, due to the fact that the
mine does not have water use licence and listed activities
authorization approval from Department of water and environment.
(2) Sensitive areas would be disturb according to the approved
Environmental Management Programme
(3) The MPRDA and NEMA legislations which are regulated by two
ministers (Department) already outline restriction or
prohibition of prospecting and mining on land.