The Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act No. 28 of 2005 (the MPRDA), the National Environmental Management Act No. 107 of 1998 (NEMA) and the National Water Act No. 36 of 1998 (NWA) and the Regulations thereto regulate the impacts of mining operations conducted in South Africa on the environment and prescribe statutory duties in respect of, inter alia, environmental standards, the mitigation of environmental impacts and rehabilitation of the affected environment.