Govt approves mining in CKGR

Diamond mining within the Central Kgalagadi Game Reserve (CKGR) is set to commence in earnest after the government granted diamond company Gem Diamonds Limited a permit to proceed on Tuesday.

This has attracted the ire of Survival International after the company claimed to be working "closely" with Basarwa, saying the unsupported assertion would be "laughable, if it weren't tragic".  Gem Diamonds announced on its website yesterday that the permit, which spans 25 years, will pave the way for the first phase of mining.