‘One big mining pit’: Alarm as 48 new mining applications hit SA’s West Coast

A sharp rise in prospecting and mining applications along South Africa’s West Coast has raised alarm among some residents and environmental advocates, who warn the region could be nearing a critical tipping point.

Protect the West Coast co-founder Mike Schlebach says a wave of new applications, particularly in early 2026, is placing increasing pressure on fragile coastal ecosystems and communities already affected by historic mining.

Surge in applications sparks concern

Since January 2026, 48 new prospecting applications have been recorded along the Western and Northern Cape coastline, a figure described as unprecedented.

Schlebach says the surge reflects a broader global shift away from diamonds toward other minerals and metals, as demand patterns change and extraction costs rise.

“Everyone thinks that there are all these minerals on the West Coast, but the reality is that it would be too costly and the volumes aren’t there,” he said.

Despite this, applications continue to flood in.

Legacy of damage still visible

Environmental concerns are rooted in decades of mining activity along the West Coast, particularly in the Northern Cape.

Schlebach pointed to large stretches of unrehabilitated land, some of it left behind after mining operations ceased or companies went bankrupt.

“If you go up that coastline… all you will see is an area that resembles the moon,” he said.

Communities living near these mining zones remain among the poorest in the country, despite the high value of extracted resources.

‘Ad hoc’ approvals raise red flags

A key concern is how applications are being approved.

According to Schlebach, authorities are granting mining and prospecting rights ‘ad hoc’ and in proximity to one another, without considering their combined environmental impact.

This, he warned, risks turning the West Coast into ‘one big mining pit’, stretching from areas near Saldanha Bay and Langebaan up to the Orange River.

Applications have even extended into protected areas, including a national park.

Call for strategic environmental planning

Schlebach stressed that the organisation is not opposed to mining but is calling for stricter oversight and planning.

“We’re not anti-mining… it just needs to be done right,” he said.

He is advocating for a strategic environmental assessment to guide how the West Coast is used, balancing economic activity with environmental protection and heritage preservation.

The region is home to unique biodiversity and culturally significant sites linked to Khoisan heritage.

Alternatives offer long-term potential

The organisation is also urging the government to prioritise nature-based economic opportunities.

These include kelp farming, eco-tourism, large-scale rehabilitation projects, and emerging industries such as algae-based biofuel production.

Schlebach cited a pilot project in Saldanha that could create up to 1,500 to 2,000 long-term jobs per plant, describing such initiatives as sustainable and environmentally friendly.

“These are real opportunities… long-term sustainable jobs that don’t end,” he said.

Balancing jobs and conservation

While mining remains a source of revenue and employment, the debate centres on how to balance economic needs with environmental protection.

The West Coast’s natural environment, biodiversity and heritage are increasingly seen as assets that require careful management, not just extraction.

As applications continue to rise, calls are growing for a more coordinated approach to ensure the region is not irreversibly altered.

For more information, listen to Schlebach on CapeTalk’s Views and News with Clarence Ford using the audio player below: