Thousands march against Anglo

More than a thousand people marched to Anglo American’s offices in Johannesburg CBD on Tuesday to protest the building of a coal-fired power station and coal mine just outside Lephalale.
The march was organised by Earthlife Africa who is adamant that Anglo should abandon its coal ambitions and instead help source renewable energy.
“We want Anglo and Vedanta to stop threatening the health of residents and to stop polluting both the local and global environment,” stated Makoma Lekalakala, Programme Officer, Earthlife Africa Johannesburg. “We have started confronting Anglo with its poor energy choice and we will keep doing so. Anglo as a profitable company can push a transition towards renewable energies and they should do so.”
In reaction to the march Anglo American spokesperson, Bheki Khumalo, told the media that Anglo have prospecting rights on property in the Waterberg, “but have not even applied for mining rights yet.”
Anglo announced earlier this year that it is partnering with Vedanta Resources, an Indian mining company, who will build a 600 Megawatt coal fired power station next to the Anglo mine in Lephalale. Vedanta in its capacity as an independent power producer will use coal from the Anglo mine to generate energy.