Golfview Mining, a subsidiary of Dutch mining group Anker Kole, was found guilty of destroying a wetland in the catchment area of the Vaal River in Mpumalanga and were sentenced to a fine of R4m by the Ermelo Regional Court, notes a Beeld report. Golfview Mining entered into a plea agreement with the state. In terms of the agreed sentence, the mine must rehabilitate the wetland according to an approved plan. This could cost between R50m and R100m, the report says. The court suspended R1m of the sentence for five years. The effective R3m must be paid in equal parts to the Water Research Commission, Mpumalanga Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, and the fish research services of Mpumalanga’s Tourism and Parks Agency. Regional Court prosecutor Charles Loyd said the matter may be seen as a watershed case in the prosecution of such offences. The decision to reach a settlement came after extended discussions and the fact that a trial would have been lengthy.
