The basics say water pollution and health issues are prevalent in Mpumalanga
People living in Fora and Carolina in Mpumalanga are bearing the brunt of coal mining pollution in the High Belt, according to a new report. Basic environmental activists have published a report on the issues facing communities living near Highveld’s coal mines. Despite the 2012 court order, Carolina residents still struggle with contaminated water.
People living in Fora and Carolina in Mpumalanga are bearing the brunt of the coal pollution in the High Belt.
Ronesa Mtshweni of Amandra Community Development in Carolina said the community is struggling with contaminated water, which is causing harm to the health of its residents.
She released a report on April 15th entitled “System Changed.” Published by the Foundations of Environmental Justice Organizations.
Launchers living in homes near the mine explained concerns about acidic water pollution and chronic health issues due to air pollution.
The report states that “coal mines … are extremely destructive of the environment,” and that “it is having a serious impact on the health of the residents of Hyberd.”
The report shows the “immeasurable scale” of acid mine drainage caused by coal mines. The Upper Olifant River catchment, its epicenter, Emalani (Witbank), is deeply contaminated by penetration from dumps affecting groundwater and soil by surrounding mines decanting acidic water from active, abandoned mines.
In 2012, thousands of Carolina residents were warned not to drink tap water because of its high sourness. On behalf of Carolina residents, after legal proceedings by the Attorney’s Human Rights and Legal Resource Center, the North Garten High Court ruled that the municipality is obligated to provide safe drinking water to its residents.
Mtshweni said that the community’s water is still contaminated over a decade later. She said many of the mines were not rehabilitated, causing degradation of the land. “The problem with that is that we have livestock. Even cars fall into those holes and the government hasn’t done anything about it,” she added.
Eskom’s 15 coal-fired power plants are located in Mpumalanga province, with over 200 active coal mines and hundreds of abandoned ones. Sasol’s Secunda plant is known as the world’s largest single point carbon dioxide emitter.
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The report states that “ecological debt” owes to people in the High Beld community. “Breathing is not a choice. The atmosphere is common and by contaminating it, the industry enclosed it,” reads the report.
The report mentions research conducted after a coal campaign describing chronic conditions experienced by Fora residents, including high levels of respiratory problems, including hypertension, eye problems, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The report notes that community members also reported uptake in cases of asthma and bronchitis. Many people in Phola “are aware that coal mines are affecting their health,” about 75% of respondents mentioned air pollution and dust from coal mines. (How this compares to other parts of the country is not mentioned in the report.)
“People started having eye problems, kidneys and skin problems, and when they looked at the timeline, problems began when mining entered the community,” said Ntombi Ndaba of Phola Environmental Justice Community.
She said urgent action is needed to control the harm caused by mining in the Fora community.
Ndaba added that sinkholes and explosions have damaged the house. The explosion also causes dust contamination. “Dust is a big problem,” she said.
Groundup previously reported that Fora residents were complaining about blasting rocks from nearby mines.
The basic report calls for a “just a transition” to clean energy, where communities are strengthened and civil society has a greater say.
