Baobabs, marulas, leadwoods and shepherd’s trees face destruction as the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone project advances
Essential policies were bypassed and entering into a memorandum of understanding with the economic zone would be high risk for United Nations Development Programme
Civil society organisations have hauled the Limpopo government to court
The United Nations Development Programme is working with the Musina-Makhado SEZ to ensure everyone benefits and the planet is not harmed
The SEZ in Limpopo’s Vhembe district will still be fuelled by a coal-fired power plant
‘We all have a collective responsibility to support the people of Limpopo, protect the environment and jointly shape the MMSEZ development.’
United Nations’ support for a Limpopo coal and steel plant must be withdrawn as it contravenes green and human rights, say petition signatories
It is unconscionable in terms of climate change that the zone is going ahead with a coal plant at its epicentre.
China will keeps its promise about not funding coal abroad, Chen Xiadong tells Fossil Free South Africa
Environmentalists are up in arms over the decision
Opponents claim the reduced metallurgical and energy cluster with a coal-fired power plant will still cause harm to the environment
The chief executive ignores the fact that public participation has been minimal, details of jobs to be created are missing and the greenhouse gas emissions will be way off the Paris Agreement target
Lehlogonolo Masoga has said that critical inputs from environmental and justice organisations and residents in the Vhembe area have been considered
The environmental and social impact of the special economic zone has been reduced, but Chinese investment and loans haven’t been disclosed, job creation is uncertain, and water use and toxic waste remain troubling
More than 20 organisations, concerned individuals sign an open letter to Ministers Barbara Creecy and Ebrahim Patel calling for integrated assessment of coal-based mega-project
The government should find a less environmentally sensitive site for the special economic zone, especially if water can’t be secured, EIA report finds
The controversial Musina-Makhando initiative will pollute air and water, push climate change and produce dangerous quantities of hazardous waste