The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has issued a statement welcoming the “declaratory order affording interested and affected persons automatic access to applications.”
The Department of Mineral Resources and Minerals (DMRE), led by Minister Gwede Mantashe, issued a statement on Tuesday, 15 September 2020, following the historic win by the community of Xolobeni against what would have been forced mining on their land. The win impacts how business and government inform and negotiate mining rights with communities going forward.
According to the ruling, the community needs to be part of the negotiation process from the start. Further, communities now have easier access to application forms by the companies seeking rights to mine on their land.
The department stated, “The declaratory order confirms the long-held view of the department that interested and affected parties may approach the relevant Regional Manager directly to obtain copies of records, as listed in the Access to Information Manual, without having to make an application.”
See the posts below.
DMRE WELCOMES DECLARATORY ORDER AFFORDING INTERESTED & AFFECTED PERSONS AUTOMATIC ACCESS TO APPLICATIONS
This confirms Department’s view that the parties may approach the relevant Regional Manager directly to obtain copies without having to make an application in terms of PAIA. pic.twitter.com/9Jo5rgJEif
— Gwede Mantashe (@GwedeMantashe1) September 15, 2020
1. THRILLED that the Xolobeni community today won another victory for mining affected communities across South Africa as Makhubele J of the Pretoria High Court declared that communities are entitled to access to applications for mining rights over their land.
THIS IS MASSIVE! pic.twitter.com/zczjljIKfc
— Johan Lorenzen (@JohanLorenzen) September 14, 2020
Sabelo Makhubo
s.makhubo@politicalanalysis.co.za
