We collaborated with the Tshisimani Centre for Activist Education, whose work focuses on supporting activists and social justice formations through offering education programs. We took part in a training workshop in Durban that focused on the law and social justice, with particular regard to the question of whether the constitution is a tool for social justice and how activists can use it.

In July we facilitated a two-day EIA training workshop at Fuleni in isiZulu. The community was delighted to receive the training in their language. They told us that the training has been a great help and they now know what kind of questions to ask the developer, especially the proposed mine that wants to come to their village.

Another collaboration was with the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (Alliance) where we provided training on EIA with the mining-affected community in Melmoth and the other activists.

Mpungose Climate Manifesto

A collaboration between Inkosi Thandisizwe Mpungose, the Mpungose community of Eshowe, Northern KwaZulu-Natal, and ALL RISE; has resulted in the creation of a significant Community Climate Change Manifesto.

Drafted by members of the Mpungose community at a workshop hosted by key role players, this Manifesto acknowledges the devastating effects of climate change and highlights the need for a community-driven response to this issue. Furthermore, the Manifesto outlines responsibilities and actions to be taken by the Mpungose community, as well as calls to government to make changes needed to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

The collaboration was made possible by: ALL RISE and Bekezela Community Foundation, in partnership with the Southern Africa Trust.

Black Girls Rising

We are thrilled to be working with Black Girls Rising in moving forward with our collaboration with BCF and the Mpungose Traditional Authority. Three girls from different schools in Ishoweni area have been selected to be ambassadors of Black Girls Rising.

Black Girls Rising aims to raise well-informed and embodied girl leaders to be at the forefront of and take action against Climate Change. Many youth activists suffer and struggle with mental health and climate anxiety. Black Girls Rising focuses on building emotional well-being and trauma-informed Afrocentric awareness around climate advocacy. We are all so proud of being involved in this wonderful initiative and of the girls for being selected! We look forward to hearing all about their course and progress.

Tendele’s Somkhele Coal Mine

In spite of our successful judgment against Tendele Coal Mining in 2022, Tendele issued a notice to commence mining in February this year and ignored our requests to first comply with the requirements of Bam J’s judgment (complete an EIA process and obtain community consent), implement a proper Resettlement Action Plan, and comply with legal requirements contained within the conditions of the mining right and EMPr and the EIA regulations which require prior authorisation for the removal of indigenous vegetation and the building of roads (to name a few), prior to commencing.

In the eighteen months since Bam J’s judgment we have had to launch two interdict applications and request the Minister once again to suspend Tendele’s mining right. However, Tendele is determined to commence mining in the near future despite not having completed the EIA process or sought additional authorisation for new listed activities and water uses.

All Rise continues to support the courageous community members of MCEJO whose love of their land, families, community and culture keep them strong in their fight for their rights, including an environment that is not harmful to their health and well-being, and for justice, including compensation for past wrongs.

For more detailed updates, please see our website.
See our comments on Tendele’s latest draft Scoping Report here.

Other Proposed Coal Mines – EIA Processes

The onslaught for coal around the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park continues, and we are participating in the following EIA process for various mining and prospecting applications:

• Prospecting application by Imvukuzane in the Fuleni Reserve on the south-eastern boundary of the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park and south of Tendele’s Somkhele Mine, Area 1.

• Prospecting application by Yengo Resources (Pty) Ltd) in the Ximba Traditional Authority area on the southwestern boundaries of the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park.

• Prospecting application by Jaments (Pty) Ltd in the Mdletshe Traditional Authority and the Mpukunyoni Traditional Authority on the eastern side of the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park.

•  Prospecting application by MDZ Fleet Solutions situated in the Magisterial District of King Cetshwayo in KwaZulu-Natal Province near Empangeni and in close proximity to Thula Thula Game Reserve

• A second prospecting application by Jaments in the Hlabisa Municipality northwest of the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park.

Jindal’s Iron Ore Mine

ALL RISE acts on behalf of on behalf of the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance, Durban office (“SDCEA”), the Nwaleni Water User Association (“NWUA”) and the Nkwalini and Surrounds Supporting Sustainable Rural Development community organisation (“NSSSRD”) against the application for environmental authorisation for the proposed Jindal Melmoth Iron Ore Project (“the Project”) in the Mthonjaneni Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal.

The North Block is 8467 ha, and the South Block is 11 703 ha in extent. The Project is to develop an open pit iron ore mine and processing facility on the site to extract 32 million tonnes of iron ore per annum – a total area of 202 km2. According to the EIAR, a substantial number of properties form part of this Mining Right Application.

See our comments on the EIA here.

Searcher: Off-Shore Oil and Gas Exploration in Bazaruto, Mozambique

In October 2023, All Rise joined a consortium of 57 organisations to submit comments on the EIA for the proposed Searcher off-shore seismic acquisition and offshore drilling project in the Save Basin, Inhambane Province.

The large consortium includes All Rise, Justica Ambiental, Mission Blue, RE: Wild, Natural Justice, Our Children’s Earth Foundation (OCE), and the Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF), to name a few.

There are three conservation areas located to the west of the Project area namely, the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park (8km away); São Sebastião Total Protection Zone (9 km); and Pomene National Reserve (11 km).

Potential fatal flaws or questions have not been identified and properly considered:

1.   Activities in total protection or conservation areas.

2.   Presence of “Species Critically in and/or In Danger” (e.g. dugongs and turtles).

3.   Presence of a range of endemic or restricted species (e.g. corals and molluscs).

4.   Presence of “Migratory/Congregatory Species”, where this habitat may be considered a unit of discreet management for those species (e.g. certain cetaceans, prawns species, turtles).

5.   Crucial area for the provision of services and key ecosystems in the national, provincial or district scale (e.g. seagrass beds, mangroves, coral reefs).

The full submission in English and Portuguese may be found here.

We are also working on a number of other mining projects in Mozambique.

Psychological Trauma Report expanded

At our request, Dr Barnwell expanded his psycho-social impact assessment to include additional participants in current and historical mining areas in Somkhele and prepared a second study of people living in Tendele’s future mining areas. These reports will be released soon.

Assassination of Mam’Fikile Ntshangase

Another year has passed, and we are still waiting for Fikile’s killers to be brought to justice. We are still in communication with the detective working the case and cannot give up hope that her killers will eventually be found.

We hope you have had the opportunity to watch the Gooseberry Granny’s Daughter, a documentary film about Fikile, her daughter and the struggle to defend their land against mining. It screened at Encounters South African International Documentary Festival, opening night Africa Human Rights Film Fest, Our Heritage, Our Planet – online festival, I Will Tell International Film Festival and Sandton Film Festival, where best director was awarded.

It has also been nominated for Best Short Documentary at the I Will Tell International Film Festival in Florida, USA, at the Ekurhuleni International Film Festival and the @Luanda International Pan African Film Festival Festival Internacional de Cinema Panafricano de Luanda 22 November 2023.

As we all look forward to the December break, please continue to keep an eye on our social pages for updates and news. We wish you ALL a wonderful Festive Season and happy, restful and peaceful holidays.