‘I want to die before they take this land’ – residents fear eviction after mining company reapplies for opencast mine

Mbane Hlongwane pictured by Goedertrouw Dam near Eshowe, Hlongwane's brother was listed as a possible victim of repression as he spoke out vehemently against the mine. (Photo: Naledi Sikhakhane)

By Naledi Sikhakhane

12 Sep 2024

For more than a decade, residents of a KwaZulu-Natal community have been opposing mining giant Jindal’s plans for an opencast iron ore mine, which would see 350 families evicted from their homes.

In 2011, residents of Emakhasaneni in the Entembeni area, KwaZulu-Natal, saw large-scale machinery prospecting and asked some of the workers what was happening. They were told that there was iron ore in the area and that families would be removed so the ore could be mined.

Community members have been in a fight against the mine ever since, consistently saying they do not want to lose their land to Indian mining giant Jindal’s 202 square kilometre opencast iron ore mine.

In 2011, the community members, who were concerned about possibly losing their homes and a lack of communication over the proposed mine, formed a crisis committee and began researching to find out about the company behind the drilling.

Alliance for Rural Democracy chairperson Mbhekiseni Mavuso, from Emakhasaneni, one of 32 villages in the Entembeni area in Melmoth, is one of the leaders who helped organise the community.

Residents of Emakhasaneni village have opposed the proposed iron ore mine since 2011, citing environmental, archeological and historical justice as contributing factors. (Photo: Naledi Sikhakhane)

“There was a meeting on 28 December 2013 at which the traditional chief, councillors and the mayor addressed a furious community. The mayor said they had given permission to the mine to prospect.

“The mine did not speak to the people; they didn’t let them know how they would move people; they drilled wetlands, graves, and the result was some people losing livestock because of the chemicals they used around the water sources,” said Mavuso.

He said the community gave the mine 16 guidelines, including hiring 80% locals, as well as respecting wetlands and graves. Due to sustained community opposition, Jindal withdrew its prospecting application.

“In a month (after the 2013 agrement) they broke a lot of the agreed terms. They were drilling day and night. Livestock was dying. Mines are not known for respecting the environment and communities they find in the area, so they left (in) March 2013 in Emakhasaneni, and later tried in Ematshantsundu.

“In that area we continued the fight because we knew if they agreed, it would be easy to take Emakhasaneni as well,” said Mavuso.

Read more: The value of land for people displaced by mining cannot be measured in monetary terms alone

In November 2013, Mavuso found out he was part of a list of four people who were targeted by izinkabi, or hitmen, from a hostel in KwaMashu. The common denominator was the four were all against the mine and helped educate the community on how mining affects towns, and the effect of mining on the environment and communities.

There have been multiple attempts on Mavuso’s life. In March 2024, he was shot and his comrade Mbhekiseni Dladla was murdered. The alleged perpetrator was apprehended; he did not say the killing involved the proposed mine.

Jindal returns to KZN

In August 2023, Jindal planned to have a meeting with the community, but they closed off the roads in protest.

In February 2024, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy rejected an environmental authorisation for the mine in the area for multiple reasons, including concerns about the mine using up already constrained water resources, the destruction of agricultural land, livelihoods and inadequate public participation.

In July 2024, Jindal lodged a new application.

Community members in Ematshantsundu said they found this out through a draft proposal left in a school. The document was titled “Draft Scoping report, Application for mining right near the town of Mthonjaneni, KwaZulu-Natal province”.

It revealed that more than 350 families stood to be evicted from their homes and at least two schools would have to be demolished to make way for the mine.

Read more: Tensions rise as ‘Iron Giant’ returns to the hills of KZN’S Melmoth

About 20 residents of Ematshansundu spoke to Daily Maverick in mid-August.

Zibuyisile Zulu said: “We are not poor here, we have schools we built, water, electricity and we use the land to farm and buy the rest. If a person ever runs out of electricity they can go collect wood and cook.

“This community is very safe. We don’t deal with drug users or things like rape. So where will they take us? Will we have the same resources and way of living? We have been saying we don’t want the mine, and we still do not,” said Zulu.

Zulu was one of the four names on the izinkabi’s list in 2013.

Mdabe Hlongwane at Goedertrouw Dam near Eshowe. Hlongwane's brother, who was shot after leaving a friend's house, was listed as a possible victim of repression as he spoke out vehemently against the mine. (Photo: Naledi Sikhakhane)

Ndabe Hlongwane lives in another village in Entembeni and says that in his area tensions are high as some families want the mine while some do not. In July 2024, his brother was shot after leaving a friend’s place; the investigation is ongoing.

There are suspicions he was killed due to being vehemently against the mine and speaking in workshops about its impact. Hlongwane said he could not say for certain why his brother was shot, but says he was a headstrong person who was a leader and was against the mine.

‘I want to die before they take this land’

Ntombikhona Zulu (84) shared the long history of her family in the area and said she didn’t want to be moved because she knows no other land.

“I am praying that the lord takes me before they come to move us from our land. I think about that all the time. It would break my heart to see. I don’t want to see the day, I want to die before then,” said Zulu, referring to Jindal’s application.

She said although she doesn't know what is going on with the mine, she dreads the day it wins and takes her family off its land.

Zulu has lived in eNtembeni all her life and can trace her lineage in the area to the 1800s. When this Daily Maverick journalist mentioned her surname, Sikhakhane, Zulu was elated, saying her grandfather’s maternal family were Sikhakhanes.

She pointed to a tree at the bottom of the yard and said: “Do you see that black tree down there? That is where MaSikhakhane lays.”

Like most people Daily Maverick spoke to, she can point to family graves that are more than 60 years old. They trace their lineage to the Zulu king and warrior Dabulamanzi kaMpande. Dabulamanzi was a Zulu commander in the Anglo-Zulu War. He is most noted for having commanded the Zulus at the Battle of Rorke’s Drift. He was a half-brother of the Zulu king Cetshwayo.

The locals consider Dabulamanzi a forefather, and say it is unfortunate that after more than a century they are still fighting for land and being met with violence.

Nompumelelo Zulu said: “Whenever the mine sends people here, we protest or block them off. One of the times the security company shot rubber bullets directly at the community.”

Lack of response

Daily Maverick called and emailed Jindal for comment in August, but to no avail. When a representative was reached, they said: “We will send the responses we sent to your colleague in July. The questions are similar. We don’t know why you keep writing the article again.”

While Daily Maverick’s questions regarded the community’s concerns over consultation, plans for compensation, and relocating the families, questions Daily Maverick sent in July related to an article on the environmental impact of the proposed mine.

Jindal did not respond to the new questions.

In July, regarding allegations of violence against community members who opposed the mine, a Jindal representative said: “It is not for us to respond to these rumours. Due process is being followed on the compliance side and every stakeholder is welcome to join the process.” DM

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South Africa

Jindal returns to KZN

‘I want to die before they take this land’

Lack of response