CANE - Coalition Against Nuclear Energy South Africa

Is this another nail in the coffin of democracy for South Africa? Is South Africa following in Zimbabwe’s “redistribution” footsteps by setting in place legal measures to ensure that landowners can have no redress to government decisions regarding their property? In their proposed “amendments” to the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), the Department for the Environment seems to be linking arms with the Department of Minerals and goosestepping over constitutional rights of all South Africans.

By Mariette Lieferink

John Jordi wrote: “In this particular part of the globe we have subdued the land, fenced in its creatures and harnessed its wild rivers. It was a massive task at first – foolhardy almost – but now we have emerged totally victorious. And it might be our trouble: our victory was too total. In places nature has capitulated leaving behind poisoned, lifeless streams; exhausted infertile soil; and each spring becomes more silent.” (The Star, March 10 1971)

All South Africans should be aware that the Department of Minerals (DME) is going to the cabinet within the next few weeks to fast-track the nuclear programme in this country. In the process, they will be striking the death knell for democracy in this country since the public will not be allowed to protest a nuclear reactor being built in their backyard, or waste sited in their community, if the DME embeds its nuclear programme in legislation.

The destructive legacy of mining that still affects the Merafong region with serious water pollutant issues was examined by Elize van Eeden in research titled: “Whose environment? Whose nature?” presented at the International Conference on Humankind held in Kruger National Park last year, .