The Minister of Mineral Resources has, in terms of section 49(1) of the MPRDA, declared –
- An 18-month moratorium on the Transworld Energy and Mineral Resources SA (Pty) Ltd application and the lodging of any further prospecting or mining applications in the area of Xolobeni;
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That no further applications for prospecting or mining authorisations will be accepted on the following mine area until such time as the moratorium is lifted -
- On an area of State land situated in the Xolobeni area, known as mining blocks Mpahlane, Mnyameni, Kwanyana, Sikombe and Mtentu, within the Magisterial District of Bizana in the Eastern Cape Province;
- To commission independent social specialist/s to conduct an independent social specialist study, to interact with the community members (both pro- and anti-mining groups) and investigate the deeply rooted cause of the problems and document the causes and possible solutions.