Residents of Mudimeli, within the Makhado Municipality, are calling on the management of MC Mining Company to be transparent regarding communicating issues that might affect the surrounding villages due to their operations, such as water challenges or air and noise pollution.
Residents accuse the coal mine of only informing some of the communities when issues arise. "We are asking the mine to address all the communities about water challenges, air pollution or noise pollution and contamination of the vegetation around the mining area. The mine should not call only a few residents to their offices. Whatever the mine has to inform the communities about should be done transparently," said Omega Mudimeli, one of the complaining members from Mudimeli.
But, according to Ms Marion Brower, a communication strategist for MC Mining, the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the mining activities in the area had already been done around 2012. "An extensive public participation [process] was conducted before licenses were granted. If some of the residents missed the EIA process, then it's a pity."
Brower said the mine offered to engage with the Mudimeli community and was still waiting for a response from them on the approved environmental management plan.
Regarding pollution and water challenges, Brower said the mine was compelled to take steps to avoid pollution and to protect water sources. She said the mine did not use community boreholes, but sourced its water supply from several production boreholes within the vicinity of the mine.