Protecting the South Coast: An Urgent Call for Support
UGU Mining Integrity Land Action (UMILA) has approached the Bazley Residents Association and requested that we bring this matter to the attention of homeowners, in the hope that residents may be willing to support this critical initiative by contributing towards the cost of the attorney that has been appointed.
This matter is urgent. Funds must be received by 16 January in order to secure the services of the attorney.
For those who would like further background, additional information on UMILA is included in the attached documents.
The South Coast is one of KwaZulu-Natal’s most environmentally sensitive regions. Our rivers, estuaries, forests, and coastline support exceptional biodiversity and flow directly into the Indian Ocean. Once damaged, these natural systems cannot be restored.
Since April 2025, 17 prospecting applications have been submitted across the region. UMILA has lodged formal objections within the legally prescribed public participation period to ensure that affected communities retain their right to be heard.
Despite these efforts, key environmental concerns have not been adequately addressed, leaving UMILA with no option but to pursue legal action. UMILA is therefore urgently seeking donations from homeowners, landowners, and businesses to enable them to secure the services of B J R Burt Attorneys, who have been appointed to represent and protect our communities.
The Bazley Residents Association fully supports this initiative. We believe that taking timely legal action is essential to protecting our environment, our community, and the long-term sustainability of the South Coast. We encourage residents who are able to contribute to do so, in order to help ensure that these concerns are properly addressed and that our collective voice is heard.
Any support, no matter the amount, will contribute directly to safeguarding our environment and preserving the South Coast for future generations.
Current Prospecting Application
Applicant: Eyabantu Oil and Gas
Application Number: KZN12085PR
Public Participation Date: 11 November 2025
Affected Areas: Ifafa, Bazley and Pennington
Prospecting is not harmless. Applications are often vague and may target any extractable mineral, opening the door to mining that threatens water sources, agriculture, biodiversity and coastal livelihoods. Pollution does not stop at property boundaries — what happens upstream affects everyone downstream.
Mining brings well-documented harm, including deforestation, water contamination, air pollution, soil erosion, community disruption and irreversible ecological damage. Just 40 km north of Southbroom, a prospecting project escalated into severe environmental destruction within a year — proof that this risk is real and immediate.
How You Can Help
Funds are urgently needed for:
- Legal representation
- Environmental and scientific research
- Coordinating formal objections and public participation
No Environmental Impact Assessment can undo the damage once mining begins.
Protect our water. Protect our land. Protect our future.
Donations
Bank: First National Bank (252155)
Account Name: B J R Burt Attorneys (Trust Account)
Account Number: 51100087290
Reference: UMILA [Surname & Region]
Please email proof of payment (POP) to umilainfo@gmail.com
Further Information
UMILA: 063 917 1548 | umilainfo@gmail.com
Bazley Residents Association as also registered as an Interested and Affected Party (I&AP).
