Project CBNews

Today, Vereeniging, Gauteng in South Africa Government and companies are preparing to hear a change in policies by the government as the nation prepares for the Mining Indaba to be held in Cape Town 9- 12 February 2026.

Community representatives and environmental advocates are demanding urgent answers from government officials regarding the impending application and approval of the final Environmental Impact Analysis (EIA) as submitted by Glubay Coal (Pty) Ltd, a subsidiary of Menar Capital to develop an opencast mine on the farms Springfield and Vlakfontein, situate in Vereeniging. The Vaal region is one of the most polluted areas in the world, and the proposed mine with its slime dams will be developed on agricultural land and surrounded by residential areas on all sides.

The Vaal Triangle is made up of the following areas: Vanderbijlpark, Sasolburg, Sebokeng, Evaton, Vereeniging, Redan, Sicelo, Roshnee, Rustervaal, De Deur, Ironside, Waldrif, Duncanville, Arconpark, Three Rivers and Meyerton, is home to more than 1.7 million people and it’s described as the most polluted place on Earth.

Veriﬁable air quality data indicates that Vereeniging and surrounding Vaal communities routinely exceed both national and international health-based air quality standards, with pollution burdens tied to heavy industry, coal-fired power stations, steel plants and mining activity.

South African health impact research shows that over 65 % of surveyed residents in affected Vaal communities report headaches, coughing, shortness of breath and wheezing linked to poor air quality, with 40 % reporting hospitalisation due to pollution-related conditions and many experiencing symptoms for more than five years.

Despite this, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has historically battled to enforce clean air protections within the Vaal area, and air quality monitoring remains inconsistent. Only a minority of monitoring stations across the country meet minimum data standards — weakening effective oversight where it is needed most.

Independent environmental impact assessments commissioned by local authorities and civil society concluded that the proposed Glubay mine will worsen air quality and pose significant risks to public health and local ecosystems. These assessments note increased dust generation, added emissions from coal extraction and processing, and proximity to residential areas and schools as key concerns. This could potentially impact on the devalue of residential properties and further exacerbate the water supplies and underground water tables, the heritage sites and the bird sanctuary.

While Glubay mine frames the project as a source of jobs and economic security, seasonal and precarious work, deteriorating health outcomes, and long-term environmental degradation must be weighed in the balance. The loss of the agricultural land on which the mine will be located will result in job losses and small entrepreneurs purchasing vegetables and maize will be totally eradicated. Local communities have submitted affidavits and petitions against the mine and held peaceful protests outside the Glubay offices in Sandton to have their concerns meaningfully addressed.

At Mining Indaba, where government officials routinely engage with industry on policy and investment, the Vaal would like to ask direct engagement with ministers and regulators to ask: why are local lives and health being put at risk for short-term profit?