The Mineral Resources Department said on Friday it believes a state owned mining company’s prospecting application will be declined.

The African Exploration Mining and Finance Corporation initiated interest in mining the Winelands districts of Stellenbosch, Kuils River and Durbanville.

Farmers and environmentalists sent more the 2 500 petitions opposing the prospecting application earlier this week.

Department spokesperson Jeremy Michaels said the corporation would most likely withdraw its prospecting rights application soon.

He added the corporation was unaware the land supported vineyards.

“The prospecting application by the mining company was based on a geological survey the company did. They were not aware that the land was being used for wine farming.”