South Africa: WWF challenges elandsfontein mine's environmental exemption in legal battle, Kropz issues a public response
The Elandsfontein phosphate mine, home to South Africa’s second-largest phosphate deposit, is owned by Kropz, which is 90% controlled by African Rainbow Capital . The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has filed a lawsuit against South Africa’s Environment Minister, Dion George, for rejecting appeals against an environmental offset exemption granted to the mine. Kropz is also named as a respondent in the case. The mine has faced opposition for over a decade due to fears that its operations could harm the Langebaan Lagoon and its aquifer, a critical ecological area north of Cape Town. Kropz proposed to offset environmental damage by donating over 20,000 acres of land to the West Coast National Park, but this was invalidated by the provincial environmental authority in 2021. WWF argues that delays in implementing offset measures have caused harm to the environment and the public interest. Kropz issued a public response.