"Mine Communities Challenge South African Ownership Rules and Taxes", 24 Oct 2017

About 150 community-based organizations and activists, represented by the Centre for Applied Legal Studies, will apply to join an existing case brought by mining companies against the charter, the legal group said in a statement. The companies, represented by the Chamber of Mines, are opposing the application because they say it will delay the proces...The CALS is also seeking a declaratory order that mining-affected communities “are recognized as a key stakeholder and must be meaningfully engaged when developing any new charter.”...While there are some positive elements to the new charter, it was developed without engaging with the communities, the CALS said...“We are asking the court to allow us to intervene in the case and to set aside the current charter for this failure to meaningfully engage affected communities,” the CALS said. “Mining-affected communities continue to bear the greatest burdens of mining -- losing farmland to mining operations, facing environmental harm and degradation and suffering from illnesses caused by pollution.”...The CALS and the mining companies have different reasons for opposing the charter...