Emotions ran high on Thursday morning, 21 August 2025, when Newcastle residents gathered to raise their concerns over SP Minerals (Pty) Ltd’s proposal to establish a quarry along the R34, just north of the town. During the meeting, community members expressed frustration about what they described as a lack of transparency and communication from the company regarding its intentions, and this heightened growing opposition to the Newcastle quarry project.
The meeting, facilitated by geological and environmental consultants ZN Geo Services, soon became contentious, and as a result, the agency was compelled to adjourn proceedings.
Consequently, it was decided that another public participation meeting would be scheduled in order to address the depth of community concerns and provide further opportunities for engagement.
Addressing attendees prior to the adjournment of the meeting, ZN Geo Services’s representative, Zama Sithole, confirmed that SP Minerals had submitted an application for mining rights in the area. She further explained that, following public feedback, the company had amended the scope of its project. According to Sithole, the revised plan would exclude drilling and blast mining, which had been among the most sensitive issues raised by residents during the consultation process.
It should be noted, as reported by Newcastillian News, SP Minerals is applying for environmental authorisation in support of a mining permit to quarry aggregates within the remainder of Portion 1 of Farm Northdown (Farm No. 4306).
The application covers approximately 4.83 hectares, and the site is located along the R34 main road, about 1.43 kilometres north of Newcastle, within the Newcastle Local Municipality in the Amajuba District. Therefore, this Northdown Farm mining permit forms a central part of the company’s current plans.
Furthermore, the consultancy noted that the application had been submitted to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, while a water use licence will be pursued concurrently. Geological surveys confirm that the host rock is suitable for producing aggregates used in construction materials, and the proposed extraction would involve drilling, blasting, loading, and hauling, followed by crushing the material to the required size, shape, and quality. In addition, market research indicates a viable demand for a small sand and aggregate quarry capable of producing between 1,000 and 1,500 tonnes per day, primarily serving the local building and construction sectors.
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However, Sithole explained that following the announcement of the company’s intentions, community members made it clear that they were against all forms of drilling and blasting. “Several comments highlighted concerns about the impact that the blasting and drilling would have on their property, and the plans were subsequently changed, which will see the company use free-dig mining methods, which will see digging to a certain degree before the project will be stopped due to ground instability,” noted Sithole, adding that she had also been in discussions with local environmentalists to garner further suitable information to ensure this could materialise.
Moreover, with the mining company now focusing solely on aggregate extraction and no longer including coal prospecting as part of its objectives, Sithole explained that operations would take place on Northdown Farm, land owned by ArcelorMittal South Africa, for an initial period of two years.
She further noted that this timeframe could potentially be extended to five years, depending on operational developments and demand in the region.
While emphasising that nothing had been cast in stone as of yet and no approval has yet been given by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, community members made it clear that the public participation process was insufficient.
“If you look at the size of the documents and the number of pages especially with the changes being made, many of us have not fully read the exact work that will now be taking place. Also, we need to take those of us who could not attend the meeting due to it being held at 9am on a Thursday meeting, while the vast majority of the public were not able to get time off work to share their input,” one resident said.
Another resident added that several people were not even aware of the public meeting which had been held on Thursday.
He said, “I only found out about this meeting on Monday, when one of the local news companies published an article on it on their website. If I only found about it this week, how many others were not aware of this meeting,” noting that not many community members read print media and could have missed it that way.
Adding to this, yet another resident pointed out that one also had to consider illiterate community members who weren’t aware of the meeting due to their inability to read, and therefore could not be involved in the process until it was properly explained to them. Furthermore, attendees stressed that making the documentation only available at Lennoxton Library created difficulties for those who did not live close to the suburb and would have to rush there when they had the opportunity. “I was only able to go through about 20 pages this week after finding out the meeting before the library closed, and the electronic copies do not work,” another resident said.
As community members continued to challenge the process, Sithole adjourned the meeting and assured residents that she would take the necessary steps to announce a suitable time and venue, so that the public could be fully involved in the process.
The Newcastle community’s response to SP Minerals’ quarry proposal demonstrates the ongoing balance required between local development and environmental oversight in the Amajuba District.
As residents continue to advocate for greater transparency and meaningful participation, the outcome of the next public meeting will be crucial in shaping both the project’s direction and community trust.
In addition, with the quarry poised to affect local land use, infrastructure, and the construction supply chain, careful monitoring by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, as well as local stakeholders, will be essential to ensure that all concerns are addressed before SP Minerals proceeds with operations on Northdown Farm.
What are your thoughts, let us know below.
Be sure to read, Learner Killed in Newcastle School Violence, Parents Hand Over Suspects, if you missed it.
2 Responses
Why was the documentation only made available at an obscure library, miles from most people?
Why did they not make it available electronically, on their website?
Seems like they were trying underhand tactics, and they are not forthcoming with what the ACTUAL intention is.
Who is going to police them when they start their destruction? Or are they going to do what everyone else does, and simply ignore the permit, and the residents?
These people should go mine in their own front yards, or underneath their homes.
And…meetings on a Thursday morning, when MOST people are at work, or earning a living?
Seriously, have they no consideration?
Who is the owner?
Let’s go dig up his/her yard and destroy his/her home.
They should go somewhere else.