The Conservancy has been involved in submitting appeals to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment against two applications for prospecting rights for gold in Skeerpoort. As of July 2026, we are awaiting feedback . No prospecting activities can legally go ahead while the appeals are in process.

Why prospecting and mining cannot be allowed here

Water: There is NO Municipal Water in Skeerpoort and the surrounding areas. All water sources in the area are supplied from water in the Witwatersrand Mountain. The pools of underground water on which the area depends for borehole supply are called Aquifers – These Aquifers CANNOT be allowed to be damaged by mine drilling – The water will disappear or be contaminated – for all!

Pollution and damage: Water pollution – from drilling and from chemicals used; Noise pollution, from drilling (24 hours a day, 7 days a week); Air pollution – from the drilling proposed and from the increased traffic; Road damage – more large trucks on the road will cause increased damage to the infrastucture

Chemical contamination: Cyanide & Mercury is used to extract gold from the rock. It is likely that these chemicals would be found in the local rivers, poisoning the aquatic life and surrounding flora. These chemicals would also make their way into the food chain and into the sources of drinking water.