Grazing Land Crisis

john mthembu

For generations, the Vosman communities have relied on open grazing land to raise livestock. However, much of that land has been lost. Mining operations have excavated, fenced off, or degraded large areas that shepherds and small-scale farmers once utilized.

Now, shepherds like Melusi must walk 5 kilometers every day to find grass, returning home with thin, weak sheep. Many livestock are left unattended in distant areas, making them vulnerable to theft. Farmers have also reported cases of animals falling into open mining pits that are neither fenced nor barricaded.

Grazing livestock is critical not just for farming, but also for income, food security, and the survival of families. Site visits reveal land devoid of vegetation and sheep that are dirty and unhealthy. Farmers claim they were never consulted about these changes and that no rehabilitation efforts for the land are taking place.

We call on mining companies to rehabilitate at least 1,168 hectares of degraded grazing land, as mandated by the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA). The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) must ensure that companies immediately fence all open pits. Additionally, the municipality and DMRE must protect the remaining grazing land from new mining applications.

Mining companies, DMRE, and the eMalahleni Municipality must urgently meet with Vosman farmers to provide written commitments regarding land loss, livestock safety, and sustainable livelihoods.