Patrice Motsepe’s mines
A $160 million phosphate mine in South Africa, owned by billionaire Patrice Motsepe’s African Rainbow Capital Investments, continues to face environmental disputes that have dragged on for over a decade.
Now, a new challenge has emerged.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has filed a lawsuit against South Africa’s Environment Minister, Dion George, following his decision in September to dismiss appeals against an exemption granted to the Elandsfontein Mine from offset requirements.
Kropz Plc, which is 90% owned by African Rainbow and operates the Elandsfontein Mine, has also been named as a respondent in the lawsuit.
Under the offset proposal, which was invalidated by the provincial office of the ministry in 2021, Kropz was supposed to purchase and donate over 20,000 acres of land to the West Coast National Park.
“The environment, and therefore the general public, has suffered due to the unreasonable delays in implementing the offset requirements,” the WWF stated in court documents filed with the High Court on March 13.
This legal challenge is the latest effort by environmentalists to oppose the mine, which they argue poses a threat to the Langebaan Lagoon and its underground water system.
Environmental disputes and technical difficulties have also delayed the mine’s operations. The company acquired South Africa’s second-largest phosphate deposit in 2010 but has struggled with ongoing challenges.
“Kropz has noted these developments,” the company stated. “We will be considering our position.”
The Department of Environment and African Rainbow have not yet responded to requests for comment.
