SWC welcomes moratorium on Wild Coast mining, but remains sceptical

Activist group Sustaining the Wild Coast (SWC) has welcomed a notice gazetted by Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane which blocks any mining or prospecting applications on the Xolobeni mine area, in Bizana, in the Eastern Cape, for the next 18 months, “or until the Minister is satisfied that the community conflict and unrest has been resolved”. SWC, however, said it was concerned that the moratorium may be about more than ostensibly wishing to ensure the wellbeing of the affected communities.