-Associate of the Research Niche for the Cultural Dynamics of Water (CuDyWat) at North-West University (Vaal) PO Box 1427, Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, South Africa, 1900
-Member of the Board of the National Nuclear Regulator (Appointment by the Minister of Energy)
-Member of the Steering Committee: Environmental Assessment and Management Framework (Department of Environmental Affairs)
-Member of the Implementation Task Team: Remediation Action Plan for the Wonderfonteinspruit Catchment Area (National Nuclear Regulator and Department of Water Affairs)
-Convener of the Public Involvement and Participation component of the remediation programme for the Wonderfonteinspruit Catchment Area (National Nuclear Regulator and Department of Water Affairs)
-Environmental Advocacy and Lobbying: 10 years
-Successful Environmental Advocacy Campaigns:
Shell – 7-year oppositional environmentalism, including whistleblowing to organs of state and the news media, against the proposed flagship highway petrol stations of Shell in the residential areas of Sandton and the establishment of precedent, namely the erection of highway petrol stations (ultra cities) in residential areas. Shell announced its abandonment of the proposed developments on the eve of the World Summit for Sustainable Development. The campaign was extensively covered by the international and national news media during the World Summit for a Sustainable Development (2002).
BP- oppositional environmentalism on behalf of affected persons against proposed petrol stations within wetlands of Somerset West.
Oppositional environmentalism on behalf of affected parties against inter alia developments in areas with red data species, such as the giant bullfrog, and rare and endangered bird species, sensitive landscapes such as ridge areas and the Cradle of Humankind.
GoldFields – disclosure of environmental infractions in terms of its approved Environmental Management Plan to organs of State and to the news media. Call for damages on behalf of affected parties. Directives brought by the Department of Environmental Affairs, Agriculture and Tourism, directing GoldFields to submit bi-annual reports and to clean up tailings spillages.
Harmony Gold – whistleblowing and negotiations resulted in monthly meetings with affected communities within Randfontein, vegetation and ridge-plowing of tailings dams, clean-up of spillages, fencing of decant area and improved management of Acid Mine Drainage, sponsoring of workshops amongst affected communities, application of palliatives to address toxic and radioactive dust fallout, improved communication and transparency regarding environmental issues, posting of warning signs at radioactive hotspots; payment of damages to affected landowners, etc.
AngloGold Ashanti – Contributions to the Environmental Impact Assessment which resulted in specialist studies and updated management measures in terms of its Environmental Management Plan.
First Uranium – successful intervention and mediation between potentially affected communities and the Applicant.
-Delegate at World Summit for Sustainable Development (2002). Submission of a paper on Corporate Accountability. Case Study: Shell in Bryanston.
-Instrumental in effecting Policy Changes in Government (Appointment of Regulators Steering Committee, Team of Experts, re-establishment of Water Forums within the Wonderfonteinspruit Catchment, etc.) (2003 – 2008)
-Leading Role: Appointment as Convener by the Department of Water Affairs and the National Nuclear Regulator for the public participation component of the rehabilitation programme of the Wonderfonteinspruit Catchment. (October, 2008 – 2010. Reference: Mr. Marius Keet, Regional Director, DWAF)
-Appointed as Member to the Board of the National Nuclear Regulator (December 1, 2009)
-Appointed as member of the Steering Committee of the National Environmental Impact Management (EIM) Strategy process and party to the developing of the EIM Strategy which is critically linked to the NEMA EIA Regulations. The eventual outcome will give rise to the amendments to the Regulations (2009)
-Appointed as member of the Implementation Task Team for the remediation of radiological contaminated priority areas within the West and Far West Rand gold fields (2010)
-Awarded the CHANCELLOR’S MEDAL of the North West University on the 9th of October, 2009 for
“her passionate and unselfish service to communities and for her work with regard to injustices concerning the environment. She has played a major part in bringing an environmental crisis, such as exists in the western parts of the Gauteng region through which the Wonderfontein Spruit flows, to the attention of the broader South African civilian population. Ms Liefferink’s work is of particular value to large urban settlements in industrial areas. In consequence of her principled service over many years, it is clear that she is increasingly being acknowledged for her work and consulted by the government and by senior managers of the Departments of Water Affairs and Forestry, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, and Mineral and Energy Affairs. Decision-makers and researchers alike value her inputs. Acting in the interest of communities, regardless of race or class, she is still making great breakthroughs.”
- Leading and Successful call to the National Nuclear Regulator for regulatory decisions pertaining to the uranium concentrations recorded within the catchment of the Wonderfonteinspruit which exceed the National Nuclear Regulator’s limit for exclusion from regulatory control and issuing of directives against the gold mining companies within the West Rand and Far West Rand by the National Nuclear Regulator (2005 – 2010)
-Leading role in the call for Government’s intervention in the treatment of Acid Mine Drainage and the flooding of the Western-, Eastern and Central Basins. (Reference: Ms. Pam Yako, Director General of the Department of Water Affairs; Mr. Marius Keet, Regional Director of the Department of Water Affairs.)
-Participation in the formation of the National Water Resources Strategy, the Internal Strategic Perspective for the Vaal River, the Catchment Management Strategy for the Mooi River, the National Chemical Monitoring Programme, the Regional Monitoring Programme in the Catchment; the National Radioactivity Monitoring Programme of the Mooi River Catchment and the Regional Radioactivity Monitoring Programme,the Ground Water Monitoring Programme, the Interim Water Quality Objectives, Integrated licensing process, the Far West Rand Dolomitic Water Management Area Plan, the Terms of Reference for the appointment of Professional Service Providers to do a study to determine the risk of radioactive pollution to downstream users of the Wonderfonteinspruit Catchment, etc. (2004-Ref. Mike Muller, Director General, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry)
Publication of international and national academic papers, inter alia:
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“Past and Present Action of Environmental Heritage by NGOs in the Controversial Wonderfonteinspruit Catchment, Gauteng – a Critical Assessment” (New Contree, Volume 53. May, 2007);
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Contributions to “Some human actions in the destruction and construction of culture and nature – the Merafong region as a case study” (The Journal for Transdisciplinary Research in Southern Africa, Vol. 2, No 2)
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“Environmental management complexities and rumours impeding the effective application of scientific research and results to address possible health risks in the West Rand gold mining region of South Africa” (Prof. Elize van Eeden, Prof. Eric Nealer, Mariette Liefferink)
Prof. Elize S. Van Eeden & Mariette Liefferink.
ELA Conference (May, 2009)
Tracy Humby (Wits Law School, Witwatersrand University) and Mariette Liefferink
J.F. Durand Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 524, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa fdurand@uj.ac.za
M. Liefferink CEO: Federation for a Sustainable Environment, Postnet Suite 87, Private Bag X033, Rivonia, 2128, South Africa
E.S. Van Eeden School for Basic Sciences, Vaal Triangle Campus, North West University, P.O. Box 1174, North West University, Vanderbijlpark 1900, South Africa.
Elize S van Eeden (School for Basic Sciences, North-West University)
Mariette Liefferink (Environmental Activist, Johannesburg)
Elise Tempellhoff (Journalist, Beeld)
-Participation in the Wonderfontein Action Group, and re-establishment of the Kromdraai Catchment Forum, and the MooiRiver/LoopSpruit Forum, etc. (2006-Ref. Marius Keet, Regional Director, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry)
-Leading role in the Formation of a Federation of NGO’s and Conservancies (Federation for a Sustainable Environment, NPO Number: 062986-NPO)(2007). Currently the CEO of the Federation for a Sustainable Environment
-Leading role in the empowerment of local and marginalized communities to articulate their environmental concerns and to participate meaningfully in environmental decision making (2003 – 2008)
-Submissions (oral and written) to Parliament inter alia the Nuclear Hearings and the amendments to the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, No 28 of 2002 and the National Environmental Management Act, No 107 of 1998; Mine Closure, Water Quality and Pollution (June 2008); Strategic development framework of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry; Submissions to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Water Quality and Pollution; Submissions to the Provincial Legislature on the NEM Amendment Bill B362007;
etc.
-Participation in the development of national policies and guidelines inter alia Best Practice Guidelines regarding Resource Protection and Waste in Mining (2007-Dr. Magda Ligthelm, Deputy Director: Resource Protection and Waste: Agriculture, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry); participation in meetings between the Director General of Department of Water Affairs and Non Governmental Organizations, with resultant assessment and address of the risks of Acid Mine Drainage upon the Limpopo and Vaal River Catchment (Reference: Ms. Pam Yako, October, 2008); Gauteng Agriculture and Rural Development’s (GARD) “Conceptual Study On Reclamation Of Mine Residue Areas For Development Purposes” (2009); Department of Mineral Resource’s “Regional Mine Closure Strategies for the West Rand, Far West Rand, Central and East Rand Gold Fields”; West Rand District Municipality’s Air Quality Management Plan and Integrated Waste Management Plan (2009); etc.
-Leading role in effecting the enforcement of the polluter pays principle within the gold mining industry (2004 – 2008)
-Leading Role: Successful campaign to put scientific official reports within the public domain (2006 – 2008)
-Effective lobbying to reform legal measures (Constitutional right to have access to sufficient water, promotion of access to information and promotion of administrative justice, freedom of speech and press, etc.) (2003 – 2008); and the passing by Parliament of the retrospective application of s 28 of NEMA (duty of care in relation to environmental degradation) (See National Environment Law Amendment Bill section 12 - the insertion of s 1(A) into NEMA); Amendments to the National Water Act Amendment Bill, 2007; Amendments to the National Environmental Management Act Amendment Bill and the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act Amendment Bill; and participation in the proposed mining and biodiversity best practice guidelines and Best Practice Guidelines for Water Resource Protection in the South African Mining Industry
-Co-operative arrangements and regular interaction with multi-national corporations and organs of state (2005 – 2008) inter alia, the International Council of Mining and Metals (reference: Dr. Anthony Hodge); Chamber of Mines; DME; DWAF (reference: Ms. Pam Yako, DG of DWAF); DEAT, NNR, etc.
-Submissions to the Public Hearings of the Human Rights Commission on Acid Mine Drainage and Radioactivity within the West Rand and Far West Rand goldfields. (June, 2009)
-Participation in and/or conducting of workshops, inter alia the Government Task Team on Mining Closure and Rehabilitation, the West Rand District Municipality (Waste Management Forum), Uranium Exploration and Mining Workshop in co-operation with the National Nuclear Regulator, and the CAPCAN AFRICA “A management approach to environmental social responsibility and accountability in practice” for senior environmental managers; seminars; conferences inter alia the International Conference on “Exploring transdisciplinary discourses: Water, society and the environment in Africa” , Water Institute of South Africa (Sun City, May 2008)etc. (2002 – 2008); BHP Billiton’s Graduate Development Mining and the Environment Course, which is accredited to the Graduate Diploma of Engineering/MSc programmes for both Mining Engineering and Environmental Sciences, at the Mining School at the Witwatersrand University (Aug. 2008); the Energy and Power Development Conference (July, 2008), hosted by the South African Reserve Bank; Mining Rights and SLP conference (see http://www.b2bsolutions.co.za/events/Mining-Rights.html); CANSA Conference (Wonderfonteinspruit Catchment) (20-22 August 2008); Ecocare Conference; Mine Water Conference (Business Zone, hosted by the South African Reserve Bank); international seminar on “Uranium – A blessing or a Curse” (Namibia), Best Practice Guidelines for Water Resource Protection in the South African Mining Industry; “The true cost of coal: Price escalations, land grabs & water shortages” The Institute for Security Studies’ Corruption & Governance Conference, 30 July 2009;Institute for International Research – 4th Annual Mine Closure and Rehabilitation (2010); etc.
-Awarded the Certificate of Appreciation for environmental projects within the West Rand by the West Rand District Municipality
-Awarded the NACSA (National Association of Conservancies of South Africa) award for 2008 in acknowledgement of the “extraordinary things which ordinary people across the country do for the environment.”
-Nominated for the SAB Environmentalist of the Year (2008)
-Leading Role: Public awareness campaigns and whistleblowing regarding non-internalised negative externalities and environmental infractions within the gold mining areas of the West Rand and Far West Rand in co-operation with international and national news media (2002 – 2008)
-Academic assistance to PhD-, Masters and Honours students in research projects pertaining to AMD and Mining issues (2003 – 2010)
-Invited VIP NGO at Al Gore’s Live Earth Concert (2007)
-Leading Role: Extensive international and national news media coverage inter alia, the BBC, the BBC Canada, CNBC Africa, Al Jazeera, Carte Blanche – MNet, Special Assignment, Fokus, 50/50, SABC 2 & 3, E-TV, UNESCO, Finweek, Farmers Weekly, Human Rights Watch, SHEQ, Die Beeld, The Star, The Sunday Times, The Business Times, The Sowetan, The Citizen, The Cape Times, Financial Mail (28 November, 2008), regional newspapers, Engineering News, Mining Weekly, etc.
- Engagement with the Human Rights Watch, the UNESCO, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation, and the Human Rights Commission (2002 – 2008), the World Health Organisation (2009)
-Instrumental in the standard setting of provincial noise regulations (2003)
-Instrumental in treatment initiatives for Acid Mine Drainage and rehabilitation programmes for historical tailings disposal facilities within the gold mining areas of the Wonderfonteinspruit Catchment
Leading role in e-mail and internet campaigns in order to bring popular technology to bear against unethical company behaviour.
(see e.g.http://free.financialmail.co.za/08/1128/cover/coverstory.htm.)
-Co-operation with research groups and scientist and instrumental in scientific research and the publication of reports such as:
Cancer maps (Dr. Carl Albrecht, CANSA)
Epidemiological studies inter alia a high confidence human health study in the Wonderfonteinspruit using human milk-teeth to determine health risk within a population that has had chronic exposure to heavy metals and radionuclide contamination (CSIR – Dr. Anthony Turton)
A Hydrogeological Assessment of Acid Mine Drainage Impacts in the West Rand Basin, Gauteng Province (CSIR – Phil Hobbs)
Water Research Commission Report, 1214 to determine the sources, pathways, mechanisms, current and future pollution by gold mining activities in the Wonderfonteinspruit Catchment
National Nuclear Regulator’s Report on the radiological risks to the public within the gold mining areas of the Wonderfonteinspruit Catchment (Dr. Henk Coetzee, Council of GeoScience)
Effects of AMD on karst and cave eco-systems and aquatic biota (Dr. Francois Durand, University of Johannesburg)
Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility in South Africa (Dr. David Fig)
Peak Poison – The elite Energy crises and environmental justice (groundwork – Victor Munnik)
Past and Present actions of environmental heritage in the controversial Wonderfontein Catchment – a critical assessment (NWU – Prof. Elize van Eeden)
A historical assessment of NGO efficiency in progressing towards a sustainable environmental heritage focus, with as case study the Wonderfontein Spruit catchment (NWU – Prof. Elize van Eeden)
Redressing Inequality (CSIR – Dr. Anthony Turton)
Water, mining, and waste: an historical and economic perspective on conflict management in South Africa (Rebecca A. Adler, Marius Claassen, Linda Godfrey and Anthony R. Turton)
-Co-operation with inter alia the Centre for Environmental Studies, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria (Francois Friend (2004), Caroline A. Yetman (2006)), University of Berlin Freie, Universitat Berlin (Jana Honke, Political Scientist), Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenburg (Prof. Dr. Peter Wycisk, Faculty of Agriculture, Geosciences, Mathematics and Computer Science) (2007)
-Co-operation with IUCN (Mike Buchanan, Prof. Gunther Pauli, Dr. Ger Berkamp) (2003 – 2010)
-Acted in an advisory capacity for Advocate Dumisa Ntsebetsa, former chief investigator of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Ngcebetsha Madlanga Attorneys in the reparation cases for Human Rights Abuses against Multinationals (2004)
-Co-operation with Dr. Eduard Hoen, EAWAG, Switzerland on the project “Water Resource Quality: Towards Integrated Water Management
-Co-operation with Human Right Lawyers inter alia Richard Meeran, Richard Spoor and Advocate George Bizos (2003 – 2008)
-Leading Role: Advisor to the Legal Resource Centre on human rights violations with the gold mining areas of the Wonderfonteinspruit and in the preparing legal documents in the class action case to call for the declaration of the Constitution right of access to sufficient water and for the establishment of legal precedent
-Leading Role: Mandated to act on behalf of conservancies, civil society groups, NGOs, community groups, quasi-governmental organizations and institutions, and affected parties (2003 – 2008).
-Successful facilitation on behalf of affected communities inter alia between the Kuthloanong community, Department of Minerals and Energy and Harmony Gold (Free State Operations) (Ref. Jabulane Tshabalala and Mr. Tom Smith, Head of Harmony Gold Free State Operations, and between mine workers, COSATU (Reference: Regional Secretary of COSATU, Klerksdorp) and Uranium One (Dominium Reef Uranium Mine, Klerksdorp), ERPM Mine and National Union of Mine Workers (Reference: Mr. Joe Matsepe).
-Successful internet and e-mail campaigns (Reference: News - Environment: Bring back Turton, say experts
www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=14&art_id=vn20081210062059318C952737 - 76k
REFERENCES:
Prof. Johann Tempelhoff
North-West University (Vaal) PO Box 1427,
Vanderbijlpark,
Gauteng,
South Africa,
1900
Johann.Tempelhoff@nwu.ac.za
Dr. Anthony Turton
Mobile: +27-(0)82 450 7967
Executive Director: International Water Resources Association (IWRA).
URL: http://www.iwra.net
Editor: Water International. Official Journal of the IWRA.
Editorial Board: International Journal of Water Resources Development.
URL: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/07900627.asp
Editorial Board: Water Alternatives.
URL: http://www.water-alternatives.org/
Associate Editor: Africa. Water Policy. Official Journal of the World Water Council.
URL: http://www.iwapublishing.com
Advisor: ISYP Journal on Science and World Affairs
URL: http://www.student-pugwash.org
Alternative Representative (CSIR): Board of Governors
World Water Council
URL: http://www.worldwatercouncil.org/
E-Mail: dr.anthony.turton@gmail.com
Carin Bosman
Former Director: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
082 803 2384
cbosman@global.co.za
Prof. Elize van Eeden
elizemar@mweb.co.za
Historian
North West University (Vaal Triangle)
082 752 8839
Dr. Francois Durand
Zoologist
University of Johannesburg
083 235 7855
Dr. David Fig
Researcher and author of the book, Uranium Road and Staking their Claims, Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility in South Africa
davidfig@iafrica.com
083 325 7792
Gareth Morgan
Spokesperson: Health and Environment
Member of Parliament
morgan@net.da.org.za
072 528 3910
Dr. Mike Whitcutt
mike@hibi.co.za
082 963 2912
Bobby Peek
Goldman Environmental Prize winner
Groundwork
bobby@groundwork.org.za
27-33-342 5662
Marius Keet
Regional Director
012 392 1306
keetm@dwaf.gov.za
Susan Stoffberg
Environment, Building & Development Control Officer
West Rand District Municipality
sstoffberg@wrdm.gov.za
073 191 2852
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