A phosphate mine owned by South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe’s African Rainbow Capital Investments is at the center of a new legal dispute, as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) takes legal action against the country’s Environment Minister, Dion George.
The $160 million Elandsfontein mine, operated by Kropz Plc a company 90% owned by African Rainbow has been a source of controversy for over a decade due to environmental concerns.
The latest lawsuit challenges the minister’s decision to dismiss appeals against an offset exemption granted to the mine.
In a case filed at the South African High Court on March 13, the WWF argued that the exemption, which allowed Kropz to avoid implementing environmental offsets, was improperly granted.
The organization said the delays in enforcing the offset requirements have harmed both the environment and the public interest.
The lawsuit also names Kropz as a respondent, questioning the legality of the company’s offset proposal. Initially, Kropz had agreed to buy and donate over 20,000 acres of land to the West Coast National Park as compensation for the mine’s environmental impact.
However, this proposal was rejected by the provincial office of the Environment Ministry in 2021.
“The environment, and therefore the public at large, has suffered prejudice from the unconscionable delays in the implementation of the offset requirements,” the WWF said in its court filing.
Environmentalists argue that the Elandsfontein mine poses a serious threat to the Langebaan Lagoon, located about 61 miles north of Cape Town.
They warn that mining activities could damage the surrounding ecosystem, including an underground aquifer that supports the lagoon’s biodiversity.
Kropz acknowledged the lawsuit and said it is reviewing its legal position. “Kropz has noted these developments,” the company stated in response to an inquiry. “They will be considering their position.”
The legal battle over Elandsfontein mine is the latest in a series of disputes between mining companies and environmental activists in South Africa. While phosphate mining is a key part of the country’s extractive industry, concerns over land degradation and water contamination have led to stricter regulatory scrutiny.
Despite the controversy, Kropz has maintained that it operates within legal guidelines and has taken steps to address environmental concerns.
However, with the WWF now pushing for greater accountability, the fate of the mine remains uncertain.
