Entembeni: A Village Under Threat

Zenkosi Mhlongo/ Entembeni Crisis Committee

Entembeni, located in Melmoth, KwaZulu-Natal, has long been a place of natural beauty and peaceful living. As a village, residents thrive through farming, livestock raising, and fetching water from rivers, a way of life rooted in sustainability and harmony with nature. Unlike many areas, crime is not widespread, making Entembeni one of the rare places where people live with dignity and security.

However, this peace is now under severe threat. The hills, trees, and fertile land that define Entembeni’s landscape may soon be shattered, all because Jindal Mining has discovered iron ore deposits and seeks to extract them.

Iron ore has historical significance in KwaZulu-Natal, dating back to the reign of King Shaka, who used it to forge spears for war. But unlike its role in empowering a nation, Jindal’s mining does not uplift the people of Entembeni; it threatens to displace them, destroy their land, and pollute their resources.

Jindal Mining first arrived in 2011 to prospect for iron ore, leaving pit holes scattered across the land. These abandoned holes have already injured livestock, including cows and goats, illustrating the reckless disregard for community welfare.

When Jindal returned in 2022, aiming to begin full-scale mining operations, the people of Entembeni resisted. They blocked roads, closed Jindal’s offices in Melmoth, and even took legal action with the support of the Right to Say No movement.

The people of Entembeni refuse to let their village become another Mpumalanga, where mining has brought crime, land degradation, water pollution, air contamination, drought, poverty, and disease. They know that once the land is destroyed, there is no going back.

Their message is clear:
“Entembeni is not a mining zone. Entembeni is better without mining.”