South African commercial farmers are throwing their weight behind a test case to determine which government departments should get involved in granting mining licenses.

Agri SA is acting as a friend of the court in a dispute between the Minister of Mineral Resources and the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, as well as Western Cape's local government, currently being heard in the Constitutional Court.

The trade organization's president Johannes Möller, said the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act did not fully take into account the effect of mining on agriculture.

"Food security and safety cannot be sacrificed for the sake of short-term economic gain.  An evaluation of what is in the people’s best interests cannot be made within the framework of mining legislation alone."

He said detailed impact environmental impact studies were essential and that the Mineral Resources Department should not have sole discretion when deciding on "overarching" national issues.

"The economic and other contributions of mining development, which are largely of a limited duration, must be balanced with the need to adequately protect natural resources for purposes of long-term sustainable agricultural production.  Food security and safety cannot be sacrificed for the sake of short-term economic gain."

He added that mining development practiced extensively in regions such as the Mpumalanga Highveld, could be identified as a major contributor to the deterioration of resources.

"Agri SA regrets the fact ministers are now confronting each other in the highest court, while the relevant parties could have avoided such conflict through timeous harmonisation of legislation and proper co-ordination between state departments," said Möller.

Photo: 2020Science

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