Coal mining continues to spark intense debate in Newcastle, where numerous companies are pursuing prospecting rights within the community. This discussion has now intensified, with yet another firm submitting an application to secure mining rights within Newcastle’s boundaries.
This comes as Chakula Kikaboni Farming PTY Ltd recently announced that it is currently seeking prospecting rights to commence operations in Newcastle.
According to Mielelani Consultancy, the company has applied to extract coal, iron ore, aggregate, gravel, pseudocoal, torbanite/oil shale, and aluminium ore.
The firm has targeted Tweefontein Farm 16423 HS and Glen Calder Farm 8260 HS, alongside Portion 1 of 150 of Waterval Farm, and segments of Farm Doornkop and Farm Oulaer.
Given the mix bag of feelings mining companies have encountered thus far in Newcastle, Mielelani Consultancy scheduled a public meeting for Friday, 14 March 2025, in Newcastle to address the proposed mining projects in the region. However, at the last moment, the consultancy cancelled the event, citing ongoing logistical arrangements, with a new date yet to be confirmed.
Speaking to Newcastillian News on Monday, 17 March 2025, Mielelani Consultancy indicated uncertainty about whether the mining would proceed.
“While we cannot elaborate on the projects just yet, it needs to be ensured first if there is enough coal in the areas where the prospecting rights are. Once it has been established if it is actually viable to mine in the area, we will then announce the relevant date for the public to attend and to share their concerns,” the consultancy explained.
As Mielelani Consultancy gears up to investigate the feasibility of mining in the area, Marianne Elhers, co-owner of Tweefontein Farm, voiced concerns that this new application, combined with a mining project planned along the D96 road, would devastate the farm, co-owned with Dr Brian Wilson.
“The mines would demolish my farm, especially as there will be excavations done to fill approximately 150 trucks per day. The blasting and pollution caused by the mines would also kill birds and water birds that live in the area. Then there is the coaldust which will impact people’s homes and health in town, as well as the wildlife that lives on Tweefontein Farm, where millions worth of Rands has been invested for the betterment of the community,” said Elhers.
Having resided in Newcastle for over three decades, including 30 years on Tweefontein Farm, Elhers emphasised that mining near Tweefontein was impractical not only from health and ecological perspectives but also due to its threat to vital water sources traversing the property.
“The river that runs through Tweefontein Farm floods every year. In fact, from January until now, the farm has flooded four times already and the mining companies do not seem to care about that, and the mines will damage the water system due to the annual flooding that takes place,” said Elhers, who believed it was essential for the public to get actively involved in speaking against the mines.
However, as stated by various residents, with ArcelorMittal’s future looking bleak in the area, welcoming new developments and large scale companies makes alot of sense, especially when considering the low level of professional prospects within the region. Jointly, the impact of AMSA’s Longs wind down is a large scale issue facing the Newcastle region, with no one able to precisely forecast what Newcastle’s business and job force landscape looks like post the wind down.
Therefore, the counter arguement to roads being damaged and unpretty landscapes, as explained by a Newcastle business owner is, “Without development and embrassing the good and the bad that comes with it, we will all be able to enjoy lovely bird life and clean air with empty bank accounts.”
He further went on to say, “What facinastes me about these people claiming torrntial coal dust in the air is that numerous towns and cities run with various forms of mining and appear to be doing perfectly fine. Have you ever been to Gauteng or Limpopo? Are they blanketed in endless coal dust? There appears to be this narrative sold to locals that coal mines on old monies farms, will result in dark skies of coal dust day and night, which is ridiculous to beleive.”
Nevertheless, clearly, there is a divide within the region regarding the mines coming to Newcastle. But as we wait to see how this unfolds, be sure to leave your comment in the section below.
21 Responses
I think we should think twice about this because we need to weigh the short term benefits and long term. We don’t want a ghost town with water issues, degraded land and the loss of biodiversity. The world is moving towards sustainability imagine what and where we’ll be in the next 20yrs! I think we should out more focus on attracting private companies mainly in the Tech and renewable energy to invest in the town
Yes but at what cost? And who decides this I think before making that decision they should’ve already searched for these type of companies are Tech companies willing to invest in a mine that will be folded mostof the time?
Mining coal in close proximity to a residential area is absurd. There will be all kinds of pollution as well as the destruction land and the environment.
The road infrastructure is not designed for hundreds of heavy duty trucks.
The only winners are the mine owners, transport companies and a limited number of low paid employment opportunities.
Not a beep from the Municipality. I wonder why.
I’m dead against the mining. These trucks will have to go through town to get to the ports. Note how the Memel road is stuffed with the heavy weights try to avoid tolls. AND these opencast mines do not employ many people. All machinery. Therefore they will help squat for the people affected by Mitral.
The collapse of Esko which has been a huge financial contributor to the economy of the Newcastle town and country at large has resulted in a lot of households not having an income, business associated with esco also closing down leading to an even further job losses. When people do not have financial means to buy or spend, other industries and businesses in town also suffer, the town is in a financial constraint and need to come up with a solution for job opportunities and addressing the financial crises.
The establishment of a mine would bring about hope to the community (job seekers and business owners) I can mension logistics, taxi industry, retail, property development, rentals, security companies, entertainment etc. Obviously there are pros and cons to the establishment of the new mine in town; however, a proper feasibility studies would be able to address most community concerns relating to risks and polution matters.
To make Newcastle thrive again, calculated risks need to be taken for the financial growth and benefit of the majority. The establishment of a new mine in Town may just be that one risky opportunity that would need to be evaluated by professionals to ensure it is feasible and safe to establish.
You can take your risks elsewhere and keep dreaming about 100’s of jobs or a boost for sectors you mentioned. You are living a pipe dream. Please go look at towns devastated by post mining.
I agree with everyone that is against this Mining rubbish. Like one person said, It’s ABSURT! This will end up being the next SODOM and GOMORA, cause crime will most certainly rise. We are so privilege to have such clean and clear sweet water, we cannot let them come and disrupt our precious farms we worked so hard for. Huge NO from me!!!
I agree with you there already a water issue which is red flags
will be like most mining sites dead because it ffaile to look the impact it will make ]. But all they thinkof is money
Newcastle now has over 30 mining applications all around the town filling up 100 km radius around the town in all directiona. Newcastle Residents DO NOT WANT these mines so close to our town. We do not agree to sit quietly and get used to the “New Normal” described by the mining consultanrs that live in Jhb. Their lives will not be affected and they do not care about us. Please reach out to SSPN and mandate us to fight on your behalf. 0829592733 Mandy
One must remember that these coal mines bosses are not interested in uplifting the people of Newcastle. They will employ foreign nationals as they won’t have a Union and will be paid a pittance.
Just take a drive to Hendrina in Mpumalanga where there are numerous mines and 99% of the workers are foreign nationals.
I’m also down with this coal mining because they only hire few and low paid people from Newcastle, the most paid are from outside as far as Limpopo and North West.
They are just degrading our town.
Muzi Sibisi
Mina ngithi maning ayize kodwa akulungiswe imgwaqo yethu ikwazi Melana nesimo somthwalo Truck msebenzi siyawu dinga asinawo bese kucghinwa imvelo nayo ngahluku nyezwa
For those who think that the “perpetual cloud of dust” is not a reality… please go look at and spend a week living in Emalahleni, then come back to me about quality of life and health near a mining operation.
Personally, I grew up in Secunda, where heavy mining and industry blooms. My parents and family still reside there. There is not a single person who lives there or who grew up there who do not or did not have some sort of respiratory issue, illness, struggle or constant / chronic sinusitis.
I am all for development, BUT not this close to a residential area (we are talking between 1km-5km of the nearest houses!!).
Imagine your house shaking from every blast morning noon and night, and your property devaluating because nobody wants to buy a cracked house.
Something else to appreciate in addition to the proximity to residential areas, when comparing “other towns” that have mining and are doing “fine” or even “booming” economically, would be to ask how close to strategic water resources and catchment areas, those towns are. Are they shielded from the air polution by mountain ranges or hills or other topography or wind patterns? Are those mines all open cast or underground?
Here in Newcastle we would be hedged in and the pollution would litterally accumulate and settle down onto our little valley.
We are not just naïvely scared of loosing a “few birds” or bunnies, or even biodiversity.
Our very own clean water sources are in grave jeopardy. Overall, SA is classified as a water scarce country. Why would we willingly allow the risk of serious water pollution and the devastation that would result?
It is like being okay with chernobyl opening up in your back yard.
We CAN and WILL NOT allow these greedy corporations to rape and plunder our natural resources or devastatw our town for the benefit of a few, who as stated, do not even live here, and won’t be subjected to their own awful impact.
The biggest of all the mining applications thus far will but bring in a measly 180 jobs (not even strictly for locals, neh!), whereas we stand to loose between 5000-8000 livelyhoods should these 33 “small scale” mining fly-by-night companies each come and plunder their small bit and run away with the loot.
Last point, no matter how responsible or how hard they try, the environment after mining can N-E-VE-R be rehabilitated to its pre-mining state.
Unfortunately, the reality is this: the cost-benefit calculation for these specific applications on the long term will not be favourable for Newcastle.
Yes, I agree we desperately need development and investment, but these proposed mining projects will not provide it.
Bringing mine to Newcastle is a good gesture if everyone especial the local citizens would benefit from it. Apparently the ESG goals are stipulation and mandate to evey company to abide to them. So I guess those mining company should highlights to the public concerns how they’d mitigate risk associated with respiratory problems and related Shortcomings the community might face in the Long run. Issues like road, infrastructure, job opportunities foe locals is imperative to address and also what is the plan to sustain the environment and align with transformation and sustainability goals jn particular. South Africa is at the brink of economic collapse so I believe we need new companies and also be mindful of their impact as well to align with ESG. Let’s look at the bright side of it while also being considerate of the negative impact and at least the presence of the mitigation strategy should also be feasible and practical.
I really need this job,am serious I need it
M N Ntuli,you wrote a book but didn’t say a word!!
Big no to coal mining. It comes with serious pollution. Everything turn black around areas of coal mining and the world is doing away with this kind of fossil fuel due to pollution and global warming.
As a registered A&I party, we received no notification of the public meeting.!!!!!! Reading for the first time via this news channel today (5 days after the meeting)
It is so painful to see people suffering because of mining next to local houses that are getting destroyed by it tracking of houses.Big no .Please think about people first .
It’s a big “NO” from me.
I’m little bit concerned about the life of the people living around where the mine will be because there will be a water problem, air pollution and the grazing land will be toxicated. The infrastructure will collapse because the number of trucks on the road and the weights will damage our roads. The blasting that will take place in the mine will damage our houses. The sad part of the mining is that when it comes to employment only foreign people will get opportunities not the local people who are the rightful owners of the mine. To me is big no for mining.