The Eastern Cape community of Xolobeni, on the Wild Coast, has won a historic legal battle in mining rights after the Pretoria High Court ruled that the community has the right to say no to mining.
The Pretoria High Court ruled on Thursday that the Mineral Resources Department cannot issue a mining right license without obtaining consent from the community.
The residents of the Wild Coast have been strongly opposed to plans to mine titanium on the dunes of the area by a subsidiary of an Australian company.
Legal attorney, Richard Spoor says the court considered the mining legislation, land rights legislation and customary law then decided unequivocally that the community retained the right to decide over what happens on their land.
Amadiba Crisis Committee Chairperson Sbusiso Mqadi was one of the many residents who travelled by taxi from the Eastern Cape to be at the court.
The Department of Mineral Resources has noted the judgment is studying it and will pronounce itself on the matter in due course.
