Delf Sand had applied to the Department of Mineral resources for an amendment to its existing mining rights in order to extend its mine at Donkerhoek near Cullinan.

Reline Badenhorst, spokeswoman for AfriForum's Rayton and Cullinan branch said the department granted this amendment in March, though the mine did not have a water licence as required by law.

AfriForum sent a letter of appeal to the department opposing the amendment.

The local community was perturbed by the "reckless manner" in which Delf Sand was mining, Badenhorst said.

Besides not having a water use licence, the mine was facing criminal charges for allegedly contravening the National Water Act.

The community alleged that Delf Sand had illegally mined in a wetland and perennial river, had taken water from a natural fountain without a licence, and conducted test blasting on a ridge without conducting a geohydrology survey beforehand.

Delf Sand was instructed last year to rehabilitate the wetland but had not done so.