De Beers is courting controversy with the proposed sale of its...Namaqualand diamond mine after the company applied to the state to alter the mine’s closure costs and stands accused of failing to consult transparently with communities around the mine sites. While labour, community and environmental groups have commended the mining giant for contributing to the region’s conservation and socioeconomic upliftment, they are concerned legacy issues will not be addressed in the sale...De Beers spokesman Tom Tweedy insisted the bulk of the revised [environmental management plan] content was unchanged...“Our concern is that profit motives will outweigh social and environmental concerns and that poor process in the sale will initiate a cycle of sales that lead to less and less responsible companies coming,” [said Sarah Frazee, Director Conservation South Africa]