In South Africa, a people fight to protect their ancestral lands

On South Africa’s Wild Coast, the amaMpondo people have long resisted the advances of outsiders eager to exploit their land’s resources, reports Leo Joubert for Mongabay News.

Xolobeni, a village on the eastern shore, became a flashpoint in this struggle, where traditional beliefs intersect with environmental activism. For over two decades, the amaMpondo have successfully fended off mining companies seeking to extract titanium from their mineral-rich dunes. The arrival of prospectors in 2007 coincided with a fierce storm, which locals interpreted as a sign from their ancestors, reinforcing their resolve to protect their ancestral lands.

This resistance is not without sacrifice. The community’s fight against the Australian firm Mineral Sand Resources, which was granted a prospecting license, led to legal battles that culminated in the suspension of the license. The amaMpondo’s defiance echoes their historic struggle against apartheid’s land grabs, where they faced violence and state repression to preserve their way of life.

Their spiritual connection to the land is profound. To the amaMpondo, the land is not merely a source of sustenance but a sacred entity, intertwined with the spirits of their ancestors. This belief fuels their determination to resist not just mining but also seismic surveys by energy giant Shell, which they fear could disturb the ocean’s spiritual inhabitants.

Despite these challenges, the amaMpondo’s commitment to their heritage remains unshaken. Figures like Sinegugu Zukulu and Nonhle Mbuthuma, who have faced threats and violence, continue to lead the charge. Their efforts have garnered international recognition, including the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2024.

Yet, the tension between development and preservation lingers. The amaMpondo are open to progress but insist it must respect their traditions and the environment. As one young tour guide tells Joubert, the stories of resistance and reverence for the land are what make the Wild Coast truly wild—and worth protecting. The outsiders, it seems, will have to reckon with a land where history and heritage stand as tall as its dunes.

Joubert’s story: ‘Everything is a being’ for South Africa’s amaMpondo fighting to protect nature