Centre for Environmental Rights – Advancing Environmental Rights in South Africa

On 11 May 2021, the CER submitted a PAIA request  to the DMRE for the following records:

1. A list of all current operating mines in the province; and
   a. the names of the respective mining right holders in respect of each of these;
   b. records of the financial provision for rehabilitation approved for each of these;
   c. records of the financial provision for rehabilitation held by the Department for each of these and the form it is held in in each instance (eg cash guarantee, Bank guarantee or trust fund).
2. If additional to the operations referred to in 1 above, a list of all new mining rights granted in the province since 1 January 2016; and
   a. the names of the respective mining right holders in respect of each of these;
   b. records of the financial provision for rehabilitation approved for each of these;
   c. records of the financial provision for rehabilitation held by the Department for each of these and the form it is held in in each instance.
3. A list of all mining permits granted in the province since 1 January 2016; and
   a. the names of the respective mining permit holders in respect of each of these;
   b. records of the financial provision for rehabilitation approved for each of these;
   c. records of the financial provision for rehabilitation held by the Department for each of these and the form it is held in in each instance.
4. A list of all prospecting rights granted in the province since 1 January 2016; and
   a. the names of the respective prospecting right holders in respect of each of these;
   b. records of the financial provision for rehabilitation approved for each of these;
   c. records of the financial provision for rehabilitation held by the Department for each of these and the form it is held in in each instance.
5. A list of all derelict and ownerless mines in the province; and
   a. the names of the respective right holders in respect of each of these;
   b. records of the financial provision for rehabilitation approved for each of these;
   c. records of the financial provision for rehabilitation held by the Department for each of these and the form it is held in in each instance.
6. A list of all closure certificates issued since 1 January 2016, indicating the name of each right holder and the name of each mine closed.
7. A list of all applications for closure received since 1 January 2016, indicating the name of each right holder and the name of each mine in respect of which the application is/was sought.
8. All records where financial provision has been utilized for rehabilitation since 1 January 2016.
9. All records of audit reports of financial provision accounts for mining for financial year 2019/2020 and financial year 2020/2021 in terms of Section 24P(3) (b) of NEMA received by the Department.

See Form A and the cover letter here.