EPISODE · Jul 28, 2025 · 41 MIN
Is northern KZN becoming SA’s new coal belt? With Sakhiseni Nxumalo
from The Lead · host News24
The people of Mbabane, a small rural town deep in northern KwaZulu-Natal, have had enough of coal mining in the area. Cracked walls, incessant soot and noise and poor service delivery have come to characterise the small town. The arrival of a local coal mine has brought mixed fortunes for its people and now the town’s reality has sounded an alarm for the future of the entire Amajuba district. Here, the mineral resources ministry has fielded some 60 mining rights applications in recent years. In this edition of The Lead, we cross to our man on the scene, Sakhiseni Nxumalo. Later in the show, the country’s shocking shortage of detectives left one Cape Town mom to probe her son’s murder on her own. We cross to journalist Tammy Petersen. Finally, the sports minister assures local golf fans they won’t have to take out a loan to attend next year’s LIV Golf in SA, a first for Africa. You can send show host Graeme Raubenheimer a short voice note with your questions or thoughts on this episode to our official The Lead WhatsApp line, that’s: +27 72 562 3179. Mail your comments to [email protected]. Editions drop on Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.
What this episode covers
The people of Mbabane, a small rural town deep in northern KwaZulu-Natal, have had enough of coal mining in the area. Cracked walls, incessant soot and noise and poor service delivery have come to characterise the small town. The arrival of a local coal mine has brought mixed fortunes for its people and now the town’s reality has sounded an alarm for the future of the entire Amajuba district. Here, the mineral resources ministry has fielded some 60 mining rights applications in recent years. In this edition of The Lead, we cross to our man on the scene, Sakhiseni Nxumalo. Later in the show, the country’s shocking shortage of detectives left one Cape Town mom to probe her son’s murder on her own. We cross to journalist Tammy Petersen. Finally, the sports minister assures local golf fans they won’t have to take out a loan to attend next year’s LIV Golf in SA, a first for Africa. You can send show host Graeme Raubenheimer a short voice note with your questions or thoughts on this episode to our official The Lead WhatsApp line, that’s: +27 72 562 3179. Mail your comments to [email protected]. Editions drop on Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.
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Is northern KZN becoming SA’s new coal belt? With Sakhiseni Nxumalo
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