Protect the West Coast

Our goes to with one of the most incredible images of the Langebaan Lagoon we have ever seen.

The Langebaan Lagoon was formed by the rising and falling of sea levels during pre-historic times. This is unlike most lagoons which form where fresh water rivers enter the sea.

As far back as 500 000 years ago, early Homo sapiens were probably present in the area, living in groups and hunting small game. They used animal skins for warmth and clothing, and also made wooden and stone tools, as evidence of these found here proves. Eve's footprint is the oldest known footprints of an anatomically-modern human.

Eve's footprint is the popular name for a set of fossilised footprints discovered on the shore of Langebaan Lagoon, South Africa in 1995. They are thought to be those of a female human and have been dated to approximately 117,000 years ago. This makes them the oldest known footprints of an anatomically modern human.

The lagoon is in the West Coast National park and stretches to the little town of Langebaan, which is situated approx. 120km from Cape Town. It is also one of the best places to view the wild flower displays that occur from August into September. A must see if you're in the area!

There is less than a month to go before the annual beach run along one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in South Africa.

Casual runners, join us up the West Coast for the 10km route from Strandfontein and the serious athletes for the 21km route from the pristine Olifants Estuary, both ending at Fryer’s Cove in Doringbaai.

Entries close at midnight September 8, so please book your spot to support Protect the West Coast (PTWC). Link: https://runwest.co.za/

Apart from the great camaraderie and festive vibe, Run West also showcases how adventure tourism is a much more viable economic alternative, and the race brings communities together to fight illegal mining on the West Coast.

Camping will be available at the Strandfontein Campsite, while accommodation is available at Fountain Beach and elsewhere. LekkerSlaap & Airbnb are good places to look.

Several members of the PTWC team will be entering, so join us as we once again Run West!




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and Coastal Links will host the Fisher People Tribunal hearings from 12-14 August 2024 at the Holy Trinity Church in Kalk Bay, Cape Town, South Africa.

We call on our allies, partners, activists, and friends to support small-scale fishing communities by sharing and raising awareness about the Fisher People Tribunal. This pivotal event will examine and address the pressing issues faced by coastal and inland small-scale fishers in South Africa. The Tribunal aims to document and expose ocean grabbing and rights violations, assess socio-economic conditions and threats, review ocean governance policies, and amplify the voices of those directly impacted.

Stay tuned to their social media channels during the Tribunal event, as we will be live streaming the sessions and posting updates throughout.

To access the live stream, contact our media team for the link:
Jordan Volmink - Media and Communication officer
[email protected]
079 145 5281

Nobathembu Ndzengu – Media and Communications intern
[email protected]
078 593 4230

Happy Women's Day to all the incredible women in South Africa🌸

Image:

Our goes to in celebration of the beginning of the wild flower season on the West Coast. These two images were taken in Elandsbaai, near baboon point.

The phenomenon of South Africa’s west coast wildflowers occurs each spring (Aug - Sep) when the arid, dusty earth of South Africa’s west coast bursts into fields of colourful flowers. White, purple, pink, red, and flaming oranges create a tapestry of colour to create an annual phenomenon worth seeing. Fybos, vygies, daisies, and nemesias are some of the hundreds of indigenous species that burst into bloom along South Africa’s western coast each spring. It is hardly surprising that thousands of visitors enjoy tours to the area between August and September each year to take photographs and marvel at this natural wonder.

The timing and amount of spring rainfall as well as the absence of warm berg winds determine the duration of the flower season, the amount of flowers, and the quality of the flowers. While the last two weeks of August through to mid-September are regarded as the best times to do a tour to view the wildflowers, early rains can see flowers blooming as early as July. Good weather conditions (not too hot) allow the land to hold onto the flowers into October. The variety of flowers on display and flower hot spots differ each year, varying according to the weather conditions. Tourist information centres in the region know the best locations and will gladly point you in the right direction. Use the West Coast Tourism website too for their ‘Flower Reports’.

It is no wonder the West Coast is one of the floral kingdoms of the world and is a must see for everybody looking for a little colour in their lives.

We have just added a new interactive mining map to our website! It's pretty darn cool if we do say so ourselves! Check it out here: https://protectthewestcoast.org/interactive-map/

You can now explore the status of all known mineral extraction activities in the region. Use the right-hand side panel to toggle concession blocks on and off. Click on a concession block to find out more information. In the upper left corner, you can zoom in and out, geolocate yourself on the map, and measure distances and areas.

The Interactive Mining Map is the result of a project conducted in partnership with One Ocean Hub (OOH) and the University of Cape Town UCT). Prof Merle Sowman, together with researchers Dr Jackie Sunde and Michael Lambrecht and a GIS specialist, Rio Button, embarked on a process of monitoring, documenting, and mapping all applications for prospecting and mining on the West Coast of South Africa.

We strive to update the map regularly and ensure its accuracy. However, we recognise that this can be a challenging task. Therefore, we welcome your feedback on where the map can be improved or the data corrected. Even better, share the EIA documentation that you might be aware of applications/rights that we may have missed. Please email all relevant details to [email protected], and our mapping expert will look to implement these as soon as possible.

Our goes to .

standing comfortably in an icy blue vortex that has travelled thousands of km's to finally unload its energy on a shallow West Coast sandbank. Almost looks tropical, but we all know that wetsuit is very much needed! ❄🌴

Winter on the west coast has produced the goods this season and it is not over yet!

Media Release - Ship recently grounded on South African West Coast breaks apart; oil spill damage being assessed; public urged to report debris

28/07/2024 - The grounded Panama-flagged cargo ship, MV Ultra Galaxy, has broken into four sections overnight, leading to an oil spill. All attempts are being made to contain the spill within the immediate area, and cleaning operations will continue.

A full assessment is currently being conducted by both aerial and surface surveys. This follows the severe and disruptive weather that continues to batter the Western and Northern Cape coastlines. At one stage, 6.8-meter swells struck the wreck every 15 seconds, and the massive force of this constant battering caused the accommodation to first break off, which then led to a number of larger cracks on the hull, forward of the accommodation.

A pre-prepared Oil Spill Contingency Plan was initiated this morning, and additional personnel have been drafted in to assist with cleaning the spill. One hundred and twenty-five (125) people were recruited from the local community to assist with the clean-up operation, and the communities in the area have been very supportive throughout this operation.

Earlier in the week, salvors managed to remove several l**e oil drums and about 8 tons of marine gas oil from the fuel tanks of the wreck.

All essential resources needed to deal with the oil spill have been mobilized. The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) remains on standby, ready to respond should seabirds become affected.

An Orange level 6 warning for damaging winds and waves was issued earlier in the week, with conditions expected to last until Monday, with the swell subsiding by Wednesday. Active salvage work will resume once it is safe to access the wreck.

Members of the public on the West Coast, from Brand se Baai to St Helena Bay, are requested to look out for any debris that may wash up on the beach, such as cargo bags, steel hatch covers, and other flotsam. Any findings should be reported to SAMSA through the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) at 021 938 3300 or 012 938 3303.

The public is also advised not to attempt to salvage any debris themselves. It is important to properly dispose of any debris to minimize harm to people and the environment.

The Panama-registered MV Ultra Galaxy (previously known as Thor Galaxy and Thorco Galaxy) is a 124.56-meter-long general cargo vessel built in 2008. At the time of its distress call, she was en route to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.

Further details will be shared as they become available.

https://blog.samsa.org.za/2024/07/28/grounded-general-cargo-vessel-broken-apart-by-waves-on-south-africas-west-national-oil-spill-contingency-plan-activated-samsa/

END

Issued by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA).
For any further information, please contact Tebogo Ramatjie at 067 325 5276 or via WhatsApp at 082 946 0737.

Our goes to .

A local fishing boat lies grounded on the banks of the Olifants River. These little boats have been used for many years by the fishers of Papendorp and you can often see the colourful boats scattered around the area, making for a great photograph.

The fishers of the Olifants River are descendents of the indigenous people who settled in the area, now known as Lutzville, in the 17th century. In 1925 they were dispossessed of their land and moved to Papendorp and Ebenhaeser, two villages on the southern bank of the river. Papendorp is at the river mouth, and Ebenhaeser roughly 15km upstream.

Their forefathers made their livelihoods through cattle, agriculture, and fishing. After being relocated to the settlements closer to the river mouth, the poor quality of the land caused them to rely primarily on fishing for livelihoods.

Keeping areas like this mining free is crucial to the survival and livelihoods of the communities who have called this place home for hundreds of years.

Our goes to who took this image while on a recent PTWC aerial trip to scope out the mines along the West Coast.

When crisp North East land breezes meet the Southern Atlantic ocean, the West Coast becomes a surfer's Disneyland. With perfect setups as far as the eye can see it is no wonder surfers call this place one of the unexplored Meccas of the surfing world. Not to mention the awe-inspiring landscapes that resemble that of a Jurassic Park film set. It is such a pity that places like this are being destroyed for little stones that we can now make in a factory.

If you are still buying diamonds, you should take a long look at yourself in the mirror and know, for that little stone, you have contributed to and are perpetuating the destruction of places like this.

: Cofferdam mining destroys several West Coast surf spots, more coastline under threat.

Protect The West Coast (PTWC) Has Learned That Three Great Surf Breaks On The Namaqualand Coast Near The Orange River Mouth At Alexander Bay In The Northern Cape Have Been Destroyed Forever, Apparently By Rock-Based Cofferdams Used In The Mining Industry To Extract Diamonds From Inshore Zones, With No Signs Of Them Stopping Soon.

“They have destroyed these waves; they are gone,” our source tells PTWC. “They were all mechanical spots, if the swell was clean they would be cooking. Unfortunately, the mining companies and their cofferdams have killed them, never to be surfed again.”

Environment reports have consistently warned of potentially irreparable damage to dunes and beaches, cliff collapses, the loss of natural vegetation and changes in inshore currents and turbidity, and the permanent alteration of fragile marine ecosystems caused by unnaturally occurring silting.

Though these rock cofferdams can technically be rehabilitated, the cost runs into tens of millions of rands and there does not seem to be much evidence of this, nor any appetite or motivation for the mining companies to do so.

Hit the link in our bio to read more about the lost surf spots of the West Coast.

Our goes to who took this photo while on assignment at last year's event. This was taken a few kms into the Olifants 21km, and fittingly, you can see the mouth of the Olifants River in the background, where fresh water that has travelled hundreds of kilometers meets the great Southern Atlantic Ocean.

The raw beauty this place holds, whether sunny or gloomy, is something to be experienced by all. We can't wait for this year's Run West event that will be taking place in September 2024. If you would like to join in on the fun and run for our beloved West Coast, please head to runwest.co.za to book your spot in either the Olifants 21km or the Euphorbia 10km.

Let's run for the protection of our wild shores!

ATTENTION: There is yet another new bulk diamond prospecting application in heavily mined West Coast zone!!

The proposed site is located about 55km northwest of Koekenaap and about 50 kilometres (km) southwest of Nuwerus on Portion 4 of the Farm Rietfontein Extension No. 151 and Portion 4 of the Farm Graauw Duinen No. 152, Vanrhynsdorp.

This will all take place in the centre of an ecologically sensitive area popular for surfing, recreational campers, hikers, fishermen, and local communities, who rely on their catches for sustenance and income. (The area was recently the focus of a major feature on American surfing website Surfline).

If feasible to mine for alluvial diamonds, the miners will apply for a mining right. If granted, this means it is highly likely they will start digging up more beaches.

They may claim that they will eventually rehabilitate, but experience shows that this beautiful, untouched stretch of coast will not be fully restored to its original state. Throw in a few cofferdams and cliff collapses, and by then the damage will have been done.

The window for comments and objections is open until July 22. Protect the West Coast (PTWC) urges you to register as an Interested and Affected Party (I&AP) to make your opposition loud and clear. Full details and directions of how to appeal are in the latest article on our site. Link to article: https://protectthewestcoast.org/post/new-bulk-diamond-prospecting-application-in-heavily-mined-west-coast-zone/

Our goes to , who took this photograph of waiting patiently for a wave, all by his lonesome.

This image depicts exactly what people look forward to when venturing up West. Empty lineups and wild camping with just you and a few friends experiencing the beauty this place has to offer.

Winter is the time for surf on the West Coast, no matter your skill level, there are waves that suit them all!

The Mines of Mordor: PTWC aerial photo team captures hidden destruction of West Coast. Beware, this one is bound to get the blood boiling. Link: https://protectthewestcoast.org/post/the-mines-of-mordor-ptwc-aerial-photo-team-captures-hidden-destruction-of-west-coast/

The PTWC crew accomplished the mission in five flights over two days, logging almost 1,500km and leaving with some alarming images.

An excerpt from the piece: On the last leg of Day 1 the team took off and headed north to Alexander Bay, the Orange River and the Namibian border, passing over scores of kilometres of land mined by companies such as De Beers, most of which lies fallow and totally unrehabilitated. What they saw was a scary correlation with the actual description of Mordor by Tolkien: “Mists curled and smoked from dark and noisome pools. The reek of them hung stifling in the still air. Far away, now almost due south, the mountain walls of Mordor loomed, like a black bar of rugged clouds floating above a dangerous fog-bound sea.”

All images by

We are excited to announce that we will be collaborating with the guys for this years Tand Invitational Bodyboarding competition.

The event will be called on a day between July 1 and 31 when the dangerously shallow rock slab they call the Tand near Titiesbaai shows its teeth in the form of a challenging but clean open ocean swell. Other puns are used to describe the event – tand means tooth in Afrikaans – such as “visits to the dentist” and “toothy swells” or waves that break with a “nasty bite”.

Some of bodyboarding’s biggest names, including the GOAT, , and another Hawaiian legend, , will be in attendance. Local charger will also be competing along with many other local talents. It will be an event not to be missed.

We have done a small write up on the news section of our site if you would like to read more about the Tand Invitational 2024.

Follow for more updates and content.

Our goes to who took this beautiful portrait while adventuring on the diamond coast.

🔴🔴🔴 ATTENTION: by Gauteng-based company Nurulos (Pty) Ltd applies to prospect for heavy minerals and diamonds in a sensitive part of Namaqualand on West Coast.

The prospecting application is for a wide range of heavy mineral sands, some of which can be toxic to humans and dangerous to the environment.

Should the application get approved, it will lead to industrial scale heavy mineral mining in a sensitive and water-scarce area, and with that array of potential material in the application, and the vast area over which it is being conducted, they are bound to find something.

We urge anyone opposed to this application to register as an Interested and Affected Party (I&AP) and submit your comments by 29 June 2024.

Link to article and all info here: Link here: https://protectthewestcoast.org/post/new-prospecting-application-to-mine-heavy-minerals-in-namaqualand/

The ruins of an old Trans Hex clinic left to rot away on an unrehabilitated mining site near Hondeklipbaai on the West Coast of South Africa.

Our goes to , who took this image while on a media trip for .

Please vote for West Coast sustainable business venture SeaH4 in Global Startup Awards via the link. Simply search Seah4 in the Nomination Name block and vote for all 3 categories.

Since its inception, Protect the West Coast (PTWC) has championed sustainable Nature-based Solutions (NbS), such as algae-to-biofuels startup SeaH4, as a viable alternative to the often destructive, temporary, extractive beach and sand mining industry.

The latter has long promoted itself as one of the only economic saviours for the West Coast, which in our opinion could not be further from the truth. Mining does not provide nearly enough long-term employment opportunities to truly rescue these communities from the cycle of poverty.

Most of the profits the mining firms earn end up elsewhere and do not filter down to local businesses and individuals.

While there is a niche for ethical and fully rehabilitative mining in the region, the future belongs to circular economy industries that have a minimal or no impact on nature and a maximum effect on uplifting local communities, by providing employment and stimulating long-term regional economic growth.

Co-founded by johannes bochdalofsky, SeaH4 is one such venture. It is an innovative South African start-up that aims to convert farmed seaweed into biofuels, creating a new industry that would provide thousands of new and permanent jobs on the West Coast.

Says PTWC CEO Mike Schlebach: “PTWC is very excited about the opportunity that algae farming represents and we believe that it is initiatives like this that are the future of the West Coast. When you consider that these modern industries are non-extractive, circular and can provide thousands of West Coast locals with meaningful, long-term jobs and opportunities without trashing the place, well then it’s a no-brainer in my books.”

SeaH4 was recently nominated thrice in the Global Startup Awards; in the Greentech Startup of the Year, Founder of the Year and Startup of the Year categories.

A win in any or all of these awards will go a long way to ensuring they receive enough backing to properly launch their business venture soon, to the benefit of all on the West Coast.

I've just voted at Global Startup Awards. Southern Africa Startup Awards 2024 - public voting round

A crisp winter's morning on the West Coast 🌊

Our goes to , who shot this mesmerising scene while hunting for the right kind of diamonds during a West Coast winter. 💎

It's the season for icy mornings, land breezes, and some of the best waves the world has to offer.

The West Coast's colour palette 😍

Our goes to , capturing an array of colours near Elandsbaai, which was doing its best tropical island impression. Without the coconut trees, of course 🌴

We are in awe of your beauty ✨️🪷🌊🩵

How many different colours can you see?

A small group of coastal scientists and environmental experts recently visited Trans Hex mining sites on the West Coast to check rehabilitation progress and inspect their mining practices, as mandated by a 2023 court order in favour of Protect the West Coast (PTWC). They were concerned and unsatisfied by what they saw.

Hit the link to read the full story - https://protectthewestcoast.org/post/ptwc-experts-concerned-by-apparent-lack-of-rehabilitation-at-trans-hex-west-coast-mining-sites/

Winter on the West Coast can be cold and harsh, but not without beauty!

This picture is the perfect depiction of just that. An angry ocean gets battered by cold winter winds, while the sun creates the perfect backdrop as it sets over the horizon.

Our goes to .

If you'd like your images of the West Coast featured on our page, please send your pics through to [email protected] with a caption and your insta handle so we can credit you!

Award-winning South African artist Balekane Legoabe () has created 30 beautiful limited-edition screen prints inspired by ancient rock art and the ocean, titled Diagrams of the Beginning, to raise funds to help our cause to .

The collection depicts the magical stretch of earth between the Orange River and Cape Columbine – the South African West Coast. In particular, it underlines the mythical and historical connection to the indigenous San peoples, and the threat illegal mining poses to this fragile natural and cultural heritage.

Each of the 30 limited-edition prints costs R5,750 and is available for purchase on the website. Link to shop prints: https://www.50ty50typrints.com/prints/diagrams-of-the-beginning/

Details of prints:

Hand-pulled screen print on BFK Rives 250gsm

Paper size: 760x560mm

Limited edition of 30

Numbered and signed by the artist

Hand-printed in South Africa (2024)

Please note, prints are unframed


There is a full blog article on our site with more details on Baleka and the artwork.

https://protectthewestcoast.org/post/award-winning-south-african-artist-balekane-legoabe-creates-beautiful-san-rock-art-and-ocean-inspired-limited-edition-ink-prints-to-help-raise-funds-for-protect-the-west-coast/
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We know you all love coffee (well, most of you), and we know you all love the West Coast! So, help us and buy us a coffee! ☕️

Skip the barista just once a month and instead buy us a (virtual) coffee for only R30 (that's cheaper than most places nowadays 😉).
https://protectthewestcoast.org/product/buy-us-a-coffee/

For just the cost of a latte, cappuccino or flat white, your regular recurring contribution will go a long way to ensuring we can continue our efforts to preserve the natural beauty and ecological balance of this cherished region.

With so much at stake, the question should not be whether you can afford to buy us a coffee every month – but whether you can afford not to?

Skip the caffeine jitters and support the West Coast instead!

*Please note - coffee cup not included, but we may be adding it to our merch range soon! Watch this space 👀

Can you spot the caravan? 🚐

Our goes to

This beautiful image was captured north of the Olifants River, where you can set up camp, on a point, with no one else around, if that's what you so desire! Endless adventures and lasting memories await you on the West Coast.

This is an absolute must-read! Disgusting behaviour.

The Sand Worth Billions’ is a thoroughly-researched and sometimes damning indictment of many of the major and minor players in the mining industry on the South African West Coast, which is mostly focused on digging up the seabed, beaches and dunes for diamonds and heavy minerals such as zircon, ilmenite and rutile, which are used in a variety of industrial applications, as well as metals such as titanium.

This industry is worth billions of dollars every year, and of course, earns the South African government massive revenues as well. No surprise the deluge of mining applications continues unabated. While other mining companies operating in the area are mentioned, the report focuses on Tronox, which a significant portion of its profits from its zircon mining operations in South Africa on both the West Coast and in KZN.

According to the TNI report in 2021, Tronox generated USD 478 million (ZAR 8.2 billion) in revenue from direct sales of zircon internationally, accounting for 13% of its total revenue.

“The report finds that mineral extraction in South Africa and other parts of the world continues to produce major social and environmental destruction,” writes Engel in DM. “The mining of mineral sands is no exception and the report shows that continued extensification of mining on the West Coast will add to the existing social, environmental and climate crisis.

“In the report, Pedersen looked at Tronox Holdings which operates Namakwa Sands (Tronox Mineral Sands) in Saldanha and Matzikama, and KwaZulu-Natal Sands in Empangeni. Pedersen noted that these operations were less visible on the radar because they did more ‘clean business’ and good PR work, so you don’t see the same injustice. But when he looked at the scale and size of the company, Pedersen [said] this was the one they needed to pay attention to."

Read more via the link in our story! https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-05-07-west-coast-mineral-extraction-raking-in-trillions-of-rands-while-communities-endure-rising-poverty/