3 minute read
Protect The West Coast
Safeguarding Communities and Natural Spaces
The Cape West Coast needs help. Renowned for its natural beauty, biodiversity and endangered fauna and flora, unregulated diamond and other heavy mineral mining imperil this untouched wilderness, and the communities who live there.
An avalanche of mining activity and applications to mine threaten to engulf this fragile environment. Destructive, single-use mining endangers a sustainable economic future.
A Chronicle of Commitment
Protect The West Coast (PTWC) was formed in 2020 to urgently counter unchecked mining on this coast. Many permits to prospect or mine did not adequately consider the impacts, nor did they correctly adhere to environmental regulations.
Founded on pillars of transparency, activism and legal action – and committed to protect the coast and the rights of communities – PTWC was formed by an alliance of outdoor athletes, academics, journalists, activists and concerned citizens.
PTWC is not ‘anti-mining’. We recognise the important economic role that responsible mining has. However, it cannot come at the expense of communities and the land that provides their livelihood. We envision a future without desolate mine dumps but alternative industries working in unison with nature and her people.
A Pledge to the West Coast
PTWC’s objectives are:
To serve as a watchdog against unlawful mining and to ensure compliance with legal, social and environmental standards.
To hold mining companies and government accountable through legal measures that enforce responsible mining (ensuring lawful oversight and public participation), and to foster transparent environmental assessments.
To highlight and expose illegal and poorly regulated mining through media awareness.
To foster dialogue with stakeholders on the West Coast, including First Nations peoples and artisanal fishers marginalised by unscrupulous mining companies.
To collaborate with strategic partners, NGOs, educational and research institutions, government and corporates to explore eco-friendly economic alternatives.
Notable Achievements
PTWC has achieved significant milestones:
Organised successful peaceful protests, including a demonstration at Tormin Mine on the West Coast and awareness activations on Cape Town beaches.
Put a harsh local and global media spotlight on mining, including coverage by The Daily Maverick, eNCA, Patagonia, Cape Talk, Agence France-Presse, and many others.
Built a large, passionate community of ‘Protectors’, with 11,800 Instagram followers and 1,200 email subscribers.
Partnered with 1% for the Planet, which is used by thousands of businesses and environmental partners.
Produced an award-winning documentary Ours, Not Mine and took it on tour around Cape Town and up the West Coast, achieving 15,000 Youtube views.
Secured a crucial out-of-court victory for the sensitive Olifants River Estuary and communities by preventing Trans Hex from mining there, after interdict proceedings initiated by PTWC.
Played a key role in a massive increase in public participation against mining and prospecting applications, including 750 objections against Bongani Minerals' recent application to mine Tungsten near Piketberg.
PTWC will launch an user-friendly digital platform to revolutionise the public registration process for objections to mining. This is a great marketing opportunity. Please contact us.
Join the Cause
Despite some success, PTWC is far from the funding required in our 2023-2025 Strategic Plan. We need R3 million (about US$160,000) annually for the next two years to have meaningful impact.
We invite the Top 500 Companies in South Africa to join us. Your support safeguards the West Coast. It ensures a brighter economic future.
PTWC is a registered Non-Profit Company (NPC) and Public Benefit Organisation (PBO).
