Farming concerns around the Highbury / SA Lithium / Umzumbe activities

There has been a lot of media coverage recently:

https://www.esgtimes.in/mobility/batteries/lithium-mining-for-green-power-triggers-eco-outcry-from-south-african-farmers/

https://humanonline.org/news/africa-today-lithium-mining-conflict-ebola-vaccine-trials-and-global-economic-developments-shape-regional-outlook

https://www.polity.org.za/article/lithium-mining-for-green-power-triggers-eco-outcry-from-south-african-farmers-2026-08-04

https://discoveryalert.com.au/lithium-mining-expansion-south-africa-community-displacement-2026/

https://www.miningweekly.com/article/lithium-mining-for-green-power-triggers-eco-outcry-from-south-african-farmers-2026-08-04

https://www.facebook.com/share/18JrBt153X/

https://iol.co.za/news/brics/2026-06-19-south-africas-mining-sector-a-superpower-sitting-on-its-hands/

https://www.facebook.com/share/1EJ8MNB8en/

https://newsghana.com.gh/south-african-farmers-push-back-on-lithium-mining/

https://mybroadband.co.za/news/energy/654115-white-gold-rush-in-south-africa.html

https://sundayworld.co.za/news/lithium-mining-for-green-power-triggers-eco-outcry-from-sa-farmers/

https://clubofmozambique.com/news/lithium-mining-for-green-power-triggers-eco-outcry-from-south-african-farmers/

https://www.marketscreener.com/news/lithium-mining-for-green-power-triggers-eco-outcry-from-south-african-farmers-ce7f50ded88df620

https://www.cnbcafrica.com/2026/lithium-mining-for-green-power-triggers-eco-outcry-from-south-african-farmers

https://mezha.net/eng/bukvy/f09a8058_lithium_mining_threatens/

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/environment/2026/08/05/energy/lithium-mining-south-africa-farmers/

https://africasustainabilitymatters.com/south-africas-lithium-boom-faces-farmer-backlash-as-green-energy-ambitions-collide-with-food-security/

https://www.miningmx.com/news/battery-minerals/66123-lithium-mining-stirs-backlash-from-sa-farmers/

https://discoveryalert.com.au/south-africa-lithium-mining-farmers-opposition-kwazulu-natal/

Reuters https://share.google/AkGyl7qQ7sIL1BPqO

https://mg.co.za/thought-leader/2026-08-04-lithium-mining-in-kwazulu-natal-they-don-t-see-us-as-human-beings/

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS4rJa74Y/

https://theconversation.com/the-race-to-mine-critical-minerals-for-ai-and-clean-energy-is-creating-sacrifice-zones-that-harm-water-and-health-of-worlds-poor-281524?utm_medium=article_native_share&utm_source=theconversation.com

https://open.substack.com/pub/thehonestsorcerer/p/we-are-not-mining-with-renewable-104?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=68lm4l

https://miningbusinessafrica.co.za/mzumbe-residents-push-to-relocate-amid-lithium-mine-expansion/

https://web.facebook.com/share/p/1BATqCkQBg/

https://mg.co.za/thought-leader/2026-08-04-lithium-mining-in-kwazulu-natal-they-don-t-see-us-as-human-beings/

Living with the mine 

The villages of Fairview, Quathlongu, Magog and Madala fall within 1km of the mine. Included in the land rezoning application dated May 2024, the traffic impact assessment completed for SA Lithium states that trucks pass through the rural farming villages on 98 trips every day, with each truck carrying 34 tonnes of lithium ore. At peak production, the assessment notes that the mine will move 100 000 tonnes of ore a month, roughly 2 941 truck loads. 

Residents living in surrounding areas who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals say the trucks start at 3am and end after 10pm. 

https://miningbusinessafrica.co.za/mzumbe-residents-push-to-relocate-amid-lithium-mine-expansion/

https://www.whyafrica.co.za/lithium-rush-divides-communities-on-sas-south-coast/

https://youtu.be/xE5iEIYGm64?si=KAsH5rbF37IBs-cY

https://youtu.be/h6-WnBUr1u4?si=cJzvkgarP98TWspy

https://youtu.be/IoVHHk9ew0U?si=izJxwSu5suRPE9Ro

https://share.google/xF2sizAupc6spYR87

https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/sa-lithiums-non-response-to-allegations-of-operating-without-proper-consultation-among-other-human-rights-violations/

https://www.threads.com/@nzwana000/post/DYjdDU6EzGU?xmt=AQG0IuBpKwGirj6M7RiXKVRGVIpOzQtd6_JowXr2CWnwykt536cXzyLg5n2zdIxzyezY2Tqp&source_surface=35&slof=1