The draft environmental impact assessment (EIA) report on the controversial proposed Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone was published on the 1st of September, and public participation meetings took place in Limpopo and Tshwane in the same month.

The public hearings saw multiple concerns raised by the communities that would be impacted by this development should it go forward. This project could have severe impacts on Limpopo communities, and South Africa and the world as a whole – from threatening the water security of an already water-stressed area, removal of ancestral graves, removal of over 100,000 protected trees and the accompanying loss of biodiversity, lack of local job creation and compensation, and of course, South Africa’s (already lacking) climate commitments.

The author of the draft EIA report has summarised that “the potential negative impacts of the development on the natural, tourism, and agricultural environment of the site and the region may in all likelihood, outweigh the identified positive impacts associated with the potential social and economic development benefits in the longer term”.

The draft EIA report is open for review until 22 October – now is the time to have your say and use your voice to halt this project in its tracks! Find all the details for submitting your comments here.

If you are at a loss for words, or pressed for time to draft your own comments, the Musina-Makhado SEZ Opposition Forum has drafted a range of comments that you can select from, and the group will submit these on your behalf. Take action here.

Read these articles on the proposed Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone that cover some of the key concerns about this development:
– Killing the Holy Ghost: Limpopo’s Musina-Makhado SEZ – A not-so-go zone?
– Killing the Holy Ghost: Inside the R145bn plan that would destroy the Limpopo River

Disclaimer: This web page and its contents was created with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the Action 24 implementing organisations and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.