South African Farmers Oppose Lithium Mining Expansion in KwaZulu-Natal

Farmers and rural communities on South Africa’s southeast coast are opposing the expansion of lithium mining in the KwaZulu-Natal region. The South Coast Guardians Association argues that granting prospecting licenses across 73,000 hectares of sugar-growing land would be catastrophic for local livelihoods, potentially threatening 117 farms and approximately 30,000 jobs.

SA Lithium seeks to expand its open pit at the Highbury Mine from 40 to 150 hectares to increase annual production to 250,000 tonnes. While company leadership asserts that mining and farming can coexist and claims to have voluntarily relocated 150 farmers, local residents report that blasting has cracked homes and degraded farmland.

This conflict emerges as President Cyril Ramaphosa integrates critical minerals into the national economic strategy to drive industrial growth. However, environmental groups warn that this mineral extraction should not compromise national food security.