20 February 2000
CIMEC
P.O. Box19253
Tecoma
5214
Fax: 043 721 1006
Att Mr. Pat Maquebela
STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT OF RESOURCE OPTIONS ON THE
WILD COAST IN THE CENTANE DISTRICT, EASTERN CAPE
We respond to your invitation for comments, as was published in the East Cape Weekend of
February 05 2000, and would register our strongest opposition to any prospect of mining this
environmentally irreplaceable yet fragile stretch of coastline, dunes and estuaries.
A similar assessment has already been conducted where the outcome was a resounding thumbs
down. Nothing has changed, why then should the taxpayer’s money now be wasted on a repeat
performance?
The composition of the CIMEC steering committee is heavily weighted in favour of the Iscor
members and their known supporters.
It is a nonsense to expect the public to believe that this committee has any intentions of
honestly and impartially examining any other resource options, apart from mining. The
integrity of the committee comes into question at the outset, not only through the composition
of those appointed, but more so through those excluded.
We refer for example to The owners of the land, the Dept. Water affairs and Forestry.
The local people directly effected, the Nombanjana, Nxaxo and Cebe communities
Wavecrest Hotel, who holds leaseheld tenure over the land for the next 55 Years. It has
invested considerable sums of money in the resort and development of the area and it’s
people, yet has not yet gained recognition as an interested or effected party.
Further evidence of the lack of credibility of this committee is apparent in their re-naming
of the initiative itself.
There will be no mining at Centane, nor anywhere near Centane. The mining, as proposed is
at Wavecrest. Is the re-naming of the project a deliberate and dishonest ploy to deceive the
huge mass of public opinion? The concerned public have been aware of the Wavecrest struggle
for years, they recognise the beauty and value of Wavecrest and will fight to defend it,
yet most have never heard of Centane.
It is not appropriate at this stage, to detail the disastrous consequences of mining to the
area, not only environmentally, but also in the medium and long term, economically. If CES,
is allowed to perform their function adequately, this will be made abundantly clear.
The relevant facts are already well known to all the parties involved. It’s easy to suspect
that this entire initiative is no more than a manouver to whitewash, and then to advance the
greedy ambitions of Iscor and those bureaucrats whom they have succeeded, one way or another,
to influence.
In assessing the issue, there is yet another possible dimension, which cannot be discounted.
The Iscor Group’s performance has been unimpressive since it’s recent sale of shares to the
public. The share price has reflected this failure.
Are we really involved in a serious environmental struggle, or is this soon to be well
publicised potential bonanza, possibly a share price manipulation?
What of the huge Titanium deposits at Richards Bay, where Iscor now already has all the
green lights, yet no mining? Was that also a share price manipulation, and are we the
public, and those authorities, funded by our taxes, merely pawns in a game?
Yours Faithfully
Conrad Winterbach
Copies:
Coastal and Environmental Services - Ms Saskia Fourie - Fax 046 622 6564
Wildlife and Environmental Soc - Mr Kieth Cooper - Fax 031 201 9525
Daily Dispatch - Mr Gavin Stewart - Fax 043 743 5155