Community tells Minerals and Energy department that "they did not want mining operations to start in October". A Pondoland community has been given a chance to air its views about a proposed mine along the coastline after objecting strongly to the development.Angry members of the Xolobeni community in the Eastern Cape told officials sent by Minister of Minerals and Energy Bulelwa Sonjica yesterday that they did not want mining operations to start in October.

The department this week granted the Australian Stock Exchange-listed mining company Mineral Commodities the right to mine a portion of the Xolobeni Mineral Sands project. The area includes several rivers and estuaries. Mzamo Dlamini, of the Xolobeni crisis committee, said the community was happy the minister had decided to give them the opportunity to lodge their objections.

"We hope that our concerns will be taken into consideration. About 300 people lodged their objections," he said. "People made it clear they do not want the mine because it is going to force them to leave their farms. We also told the officials that the issue of the mine has caused serious divisions among people. The department is now aware that these divisions have the potential to lead to deaths," he said.