The South African Mononono community has been organizing and protesting against the operations of against Ikwezi Vandadium (Pty) Ltd. The community wants Ikwezi to stop its activities until it has clearly communicated its mining plans, and how the community will benefit from or be compensated for Ikwezi’s mining on Haarkdoornfontein farm. The community has also requested an environmental impact assessment because the farm is close to a gravesite and houses. According to local reports, their peaceful protest actions have been met by brute force and gunfire by the private security company National Strike Intervention Unit (NSIU). Security guards have continued using brute force against community members despite court orders halting mining operations. Reportedly, the NSIU has proceeded to rain hellfire against protesting community members, wounding 15 community members and two police officers in December 2020. On 8 January 2021, Ikwezi Vanadium returned to the farm to resume operations after having being removed in December by a sheriff of the court. Local news report that NSIU security guards shot rubber bullets at Mononono residents who were protesting against Ikwezi Vanadium’s activities on Haakdoornfontein farm. The new attack left more than 20 community members injured.

Ikwezi Vanadium denied the allegations and declared that local communities had been duly consulted and notified of all the planned activities.