Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
Andiswa Matikinca

Creator

Andiswa Matikinca

Andiswa Matikinca is an associate and #MineAlert manager at Oxpeckers Investigative Environmental Journalism

Mad dash: Most of the sudden influx of prospecting applications are for lithium, but include dozens of other critical minerals. Pictured here is the SA Lithium Mine near Umzumbe. Photo: Supplied
AFLI EXPLORATIONS

Mining red flags along KwaZulu-Natal’s South Coast

Thirteen prospecting applications have been submitted to the department of minerals and petroleum resources by seven companies since 2023

  • Andiswa Matikinca
11 min read
Trucks line up at the Machipanda border, a major economic link between Zimbabwean capital Harare and Mozambican port city Beira. Photo supplied
AFRICAN MINERALS

On the trail of lithium smugglers in Southern Africa

International intelligence data shows a recent boom in lithium exports from Southern Africa to Chinese markets. Where’s it coming from, and how does it get there?

  • Andiswa Matikinca
  • Tatenda Chitagu
9 min read
In the lush village of Umzumbe in southern KwaZulu-Natal, communities living adjacent to the SA Lithium mine say they are already experiencing the negative impacts of the operation and were never consulted about it. Photo: Aphiwe Moyo
AFRICAN CRITICAL MINERALS SUMMIT
Video

Critical futures: What SA wants from its transition minerals

With vast deposits of minerals that make South Africa a key player in the green energy transition, Andiswa Matikinca investigates the future that stakeholders want to see

  • Andiswa Matikinca
9 min read
The reality is that we simply cannot meet the African continent’s unique energy problems and opportunities without accelerating grid transformation. Photo: Salam Habash / Unsplash
COAL

A spoke in Mpumalanga’s power wheel

Wheeling electricity across the grid offers a solution to South Africa’s power crisis, so why is it not happening in the energy heartland?

  • Andiswa Matikinca
  • Thabo Molelekwa
8 min read
Hendrina Power Station: One of the country’s biggest and oldest power stations, it is set to be decommissioned between the end of 2023 and 2025. Photo: Dianah Chiyangwa
COAL
Video

A new light on the future of Eskom’s assets

A business coalition in South Africa’s energy heartland proposes a private takeover of Eskom’s assets to keep the lights on. But not everyone agrees with privatising energy…

  • Andiswa Matikinca
  • Oxpeckers
12 min read
The Ngodwana biomass plant, powered by waste from the Sappi wood and paper mill, was due to supply energy to Eskom from March 2022. Photo courtesy Sappi
BIOMASS

Where are Mpumalanga’s new energy projects?

South Africa’s power capital is being left behind in the race for renewable energy generation.

  • Andiswa Matikinca
  • Oxpeckers
13 min read
Unchecked: Mining companies accused of failing to comply with environmental regulations say that the water department is disorganised and understaffed. (Madelene Cronjé)
GUGILE NKWINTI

Big increase in mine water pollution

New data reveals a radical increase in the number of mines flouting water regulations

  • Andiswa Matikinca
  • Mark Olalde
5 min read