WWF Sues SA Environment Minister Over Elandsfontein Phosphate Mine Exemption

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has filed a lawsuit against South Africa’s Environment Minister, Dion George, challenging his decision to dismiss appeals against an environmental offset exemption granted to the $160 million (R2.9 billion) Elandsfontein phosphate mine. The mine is owned by Patrice Motsepe’s African Rainbow Capital.

Kropz Plc, which owns the Elandsfontein mine and is 90% held by African Rainbow Capital, has also been named as a respondent in the lawsuit, according to Daily Investor.

WWF argues that delays in implementing environmental offset requirements have harmed both the public and the ecosystem. The offset proposal initially included plans for Kropz to purchase and donate over 20,000 acres of land to the West Coast National Park, but the provincial office of the ministry annulled this plan in 2021.

“The environment, and therefore the public at large, has suffered prejudice from the unconscionable delays in the implementation of the offset requirements,” WWF stated in court documents filed with the High Court on March 13, as reported by Mining.com.

The mine, located near Langebaan Lagoon, about 100 km north of Cape Town, has faced long-standing opposition from environmental groups concerned about its impact on the lagoon and the underground Elandsfontein aquifer.

In 2017, GroundUp News reported that environmental activists and state departments had challenged the mine’s legality, warning that it could damage the sensitive ecosystem. That same year, Kropz suspended the project indefinitely due to technical, market, and regulatory challenges.

The West Coast Environmental Protection Association has also taken legal action against Kropz, seeking to prevent it from using water from the ancient aquifer, citing potential environmental risks.

Despite the controversies, the Elandsfontein phosphate deposit remains South Africa’s second-largest, known for its low cadmium and heavy metal content—ideal for producing fertilizers that promote sustainable agriculture.

Kropz has stated that it is reviewing its position following the latest legal developments.

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