The Herd Reserve, Living Limpopo, and CALS, represented by All Rise Attorneys, have slammed the environmental impact assessment report for a proposed ferrochrome smelter in the controversial Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone in Limpopo.

On Thursday, 14 August 2025, Living Limpopo, Wits University’s Centre for Applied Legal Studies and The Herd Nature Reserve, supported by All Rise Attorneys for Environmental and Climate Justice, submitted comprehensive formal comments and objections on the draft Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the planned ferrochrome/ferroalloys smelter in the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ).

“MC Mining’s contempt for South Africa’s environmental safeguards cannot be ignored”. MC Mining’s total disregard for due process has raised serious governance concerns about the China-South Africa government-backed MMSEZ— and the risk of foreign investors being allowed to violate South Africa’s environmental protection standards.

Watch a clip from the explosive show that aired on DSTV’s high-profile current affairs programme, Carte Blanche, on 16 March 2025, featuring the Living Limpopo campaign. The “Baobab Bomb” episode trains a lens on the controversial MMSEZ mega-industrial project being developed in Limpopo Province, exposes the links to Chinese coal interests - and reveals shocking footage of the strip-mining that has begun illegally in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve.

SIGN THE PETITION

CALLING ON THE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR AND MINISTER DION GEORGE TO ACT AGAINST CHINESE-OWNED MC MINING FOR VIOLATING SOUTH AFRICAN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW

STEALING LIMPOPO’s WATER: At the confluence of coal, steel and sacred water. Highlights from the explosive new podcast episode on Just Us & the Climate, exposing the threat to Limpopo’s water posed by the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone and exploitation of the surrounding coalfield.

Every minute and every rand of public money spent by the government on planning for Limpopo’s future is devoted to mining coal and shovelling it into blast furnaces on the edge of the coalpits to make unwanted steel, and emitting 33 million tons of carbon dioxide every year for the next 30 years.

Podcast: “The public versus the MMSEZ - Part 3: Plundering Limpopo’s water for coal”

RI ṰOḒA THUSO YAVHO U TSIRELEDZA MUPO WA VUNDU ḼA LIMPOPO

PRESS RELEASE - Should 600,000 protected trees be bulldozed to make way for the Musima-Makhado Special Economic Zone

South Africa is about to create a new Sacrifice Zone for coal and steel in the remote Vhembe region of Limpopo Province.

This an urgent call to the public to register as stakeholders in decisions to green-light the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone.

Did you know that the largest coal-fuelled industrial development in South Africa’s history is planned for Limpopo’s Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, along with the expansion of coal mining on an unprecedented scale.

MMSEZ coking coal, ferrochrome smelter and other industrial projects - EIA announced: Register as a stakeholder here today to change tomorrow.

The wild heart of Limpopo should not be sacrificed to coal.

South Africa’s real natural assets can be worth more than its mineral petroleum resources: The case of the Vhembe’s natural carbon sink versus the Greater Soutpansberg Coalfield

A Living Limpopo Blog Post

JOINT PRESS RELEASE BY LIVING LIMPOPO, WITS CENTRE FOR APPLIED LEGAL STUDIES (CALS) AND ALLRISE ATTORNEYS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE JUSTICE