(1)Whether, with reference to his reply to question 1808 on 27 September 2016, the area of the intended Yzermyn underground coal mine is protected under the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, Act 57 of 2003, as amended; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) why was a mining right for the specified mine issued on 28 June 2016, despite the recommendation contained in the biodiversity baseline and impact assessment report compiled for WSP Environmental by the Natural Scientific Services that the specified mining right should not be issued due to the impacts of the proposed mining project;
(3) (a) how many mining rights have been issued in each province for the specified mining projects where environmental impact reports recommended against the issuing of such rights (i) in the (aa) 2013-14, (bb) 2014-15 and (cc) 2015-16 financial years and (ii) since 1 April 2016 and (b) what are the (i) names of the mining projects and (ii) dates on which the specified rights were issued;
(4) whether mining has commenced at the mining site; if not, on what date will it commence; if so, on what date did it commence? NW2561E