The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (Wessa) has expressed its concern over the decision of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism to allow the controversial N2 toll road to run through the Eastern Cape.
Wessa claims that department Director General Dr Crispian Olver has indirectly given the Australian mining company, Mineral Resource Commodities, the green light to mine along the Wild Coast.
According to Wessa, the mining project’s viability hinges on the existence of an excellent road network, as land-haulage costs represent the biggest individual item in the cost structure.
”Dr Olver has just solved this cost structure [issue] for them,” said Cathy Kay, national director of conservation for Wessa.
Kay claims that Olver flouted the regulations promulgated by the department in terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment requirements and that he did not consider other options.
”It is ironic,” said Kay, ”that the Biodiversity Act was promulgated by Parliament just two weeks ago. [The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism], Mohammed Valli Moosa, stated on national radio that South Africa must jealously guard its biodiversity.
”Yet here we are, about to put a super-highway through a global hotspot of biodiversity.”
Wessa plans to lodge an appeal against the decision within the next few days.