Following the threats last year to wineries such as Zevenwacht and Jordan from a government-owned mining company, it appears that others are trying to get in on the act with a new application to mine for sand and aggregate at boutique farm, Usana, just down the road from Jordan. This is the letter owner JP Winshaw is sending out to as many people as possible:
“We received notice of a mining company applying to mine sand and aggregate (stone) on our farm. As you may imagine this is very upsetting news to us. They have made no effort to discuss their intentions or negotiate the use of the land. Simply informing us that they have applied for the rights from government and if approved will be mining the land for the next many years.
For those of you who may or may not know we are in the process of extensively developing the farm to raise grass feed cattle, sheep, chickens and eggs along with the vineyards we already grow on the farm. We intend to produce the opposite of the factory farms, currently dominating our meat market. The land they intend to mine makes up a very important part of our current development not to mention the destruction any form of mining will have on the land.
We will be fighting the application and hopefully have the right people on our side to assist us to stop the application but I also need your help. Please register as an affected or interested party (I&AP) in objection to them mining on Klein Welmoed Farm.
Simply copy and paste the letter below and send to the following persons:
Olivia Braaf – olivia@vodamail.co.za (Environmental Practitioner)
Mr S Mapakane – Sivuyile.Mpakane@dmr.gov.za (Mineral Regulation & Administration in the Western Cape)
This needs to reach them before the 12 September and obviously the more objections they receive the stronger our case becomes. Please send this on to as many friends and family you feel may want to voice their opposition to mining in the wine lands.
Thank you all for your support
Winshaw Family
Subject:
OBJECTION TO PROPOSED MINING OF A PORTION OF FARM 640
Dear Olivia Braaf
Please include myself to the list of Interested and affected people in objection to any mining taking place on any portion of Klein Welmoed Farm.
PROPOSED MINING OF A PORTION OF FARM 640 (STELLENBOSCH RD), PENHILL
DMR REF. NO. WC30/5/1/2/2/10007MR
I object to any form of mining taking place on agricultural land.
I Quote
On the 10th March 2010 DG Adv Sandile Nogxina Nogxina publicly said that an application to mine land under agricultural production would never be granted as the government had to balance the interests of the exploitation of mineral resources with food security. “Land use has to cater for both. The land is being used for food security and there is no way we can interfere with that. We are a responsible government after all.” I expect this statement to be honoured
Regards
Name + Surname
Contact number
Postal Address”