Another is a group challenging threats that small diamond miners will be let loose in the Vaalbos National Park , north of Kimberley. Proclaimed a national park in 1986, it is home to several rare species of animals, some endangered. It has launched an email petition. Allison Burger Pinter , principal environmental scientist at SRK Consulting, says the judgment has a strong public involvement message. It is an enormous challenge to encourage people to participate in making decisions that will affect their lives.
Many people are sceptical of their ability to influence decision making.
This judgment shows they can influence decisions. Sasol corporate communications manager Alfonso Niemand says Sasol honours the judgment. He points out the judgment does not prohibit Sasol from mining, but affects the process it has to follow to obtain approval for mining. The process will clearly have a cost effect but it will depend on specific cases. In this case, we don't know how long the delay will be.