Joy and wonder greeted the discovery in 1995 of ancient human footprints preserved in sandstone in the West Coast National Park — our species’ earliest known steps.
Fast forward 30 years and the desire of a mining company to add its own footprint in the park has sparked shock and outrage, as well as a legal tussle linked to one of South Africa’s wealthiest men.
African Rainbow Capital, a mining company led by billionaire Patrice Motsepe, wants to expand its phosphate mining operations inside the park via the UK-listed company Kropz, in which it is the major shareholder. In effect the company wants to privatise a section of the park in return for a piece of its land — a swap it hopes to effect with the South African National Parks Board (SANParks).
Phosphate is a key ingredient in fertiliser.
But SANParks this week ruled out mining inside a declared national park. Kropz, in response on Friday, said: “We will continue to follow due process and engage with all parties.”
At the same time, Kropz is embroiled in a court case over its existing mining operation, Elandsfontein, which borders the park and where it stands accused of reneging on its rehabilitation commitments.
The World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF-SA) wants the Western Cape High Court to reinstate “offset conditions” — compensation for environmental damage due to mining — that it claims were illegally set aside by the DA minister of forestry, fisheries & environment, Dion George.
The conditions were a prerequisite for the company’s mining licence, but the company persuaded the department of mineral resources & energy last year to set them aside. WWF-SA tried to block the move, but George upheld the decision and dismissed the appeal.
WWF-SA is fighting back amid a groundswell of concern about commercial exploitation of protected natural areas. A national park renowned for the fossilised sands of time, is now in the spotlight for shareholder gain.
“It’s quite staggering seeing a so-called minister for the environment making life easier for a proposed phosphate mine in a national park,” Fossil Free South Africa director David Le Page told the Sunday Times.
“It shows contempt for our environment, our constitution, and suggests that despite the supposed differences between the DA and ANC, South Africa is in reality dominated by a single party [that stands] for business at any cost.”
The West Coast National Park is no ordinary park. Not only is it famous for the 117,000-year old fossil footprints, dubbed “Eve’s footprint”, it borders on the sensitive Langebaan Lagoon, a protected international wetland site. The park was established thanks to the efforts of a trust set up by the WWF and the late Anton Rupert, founder of Remgro. Rupert’s son Johann is a trustee.
WWF-SA CEO Morne du Plessis said the organisation would “vigorously and strongly” oppose Kropz’s ambitions. “When land gets declared as a national park it essentially protects [it] from every kind of use that would be contrary to the purposes for which it was declared — and that includes all forms of mining.”
When land gets declared as a national park it essentially protects [it] from every kind of use that would be contrary to the purposes for which it was declared – and that includes all forms of mining
— Morne du Plessis, WWF-SA
In an affidavit submitted to court Du Plessis said: “WWF-SA would have expected a company like Kropz, with its associated shareholders, would have held itself to a higher level of environmental and social responsibility than that which has been evident in the facts of this matter.”
Kropz, however, said its actions were motivated by responsibility towards its workforce and the broader West Coast community.
“We are committed to responsible environmental stewardship and deeply committed to the sustainable use of South Africa’s natural resources,” Kropz CEO Louis Loubser said in a statement.
“At the same time, we are fully aware of our responsibility to protect the livelihoods of our employees and their families. We operate under the firm belief that economic development and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive — we can and must do both.”
Loubser said Kropz complied with all its environmental authorisations and underwent regular audits by government departments.
“We maintain significant financial guarantees to ensure rehabilitation obligations are met at any stage, whether in the event of premature closure or eventual mine decommissioning.”
Environmental stakeholders fear the bid to expand mining is a sign of the times, as commercial interests make inroads into conservation areas across Southern Africa. A piece of Table Mountain National Park buffer zone is earmarked for a housing development, and other protected areas could face similar pressures.
George, Motsepe and Rupert did not respond to queries by the time of going to print.
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