It has been alleged that Thungela Resources failed to ensure meaningful public participation in relation to its proposed Coalbed Methane Exploration Project in Lephalale, Limpopo. According to reports, affected communities were not given sufficient time or information to understand and comment on a project seeking environmental authorisation to drill 333 production wells across approximately 134,155 hectares. Civil society organisations further alleged that public meetings attracted limited participation from residents of nearby Marapong and Onverwacht, questioned whether adequate alternative arrangements were made after meetings were not held in Marapong due to safety concerns, and raised concerns that presentations were conducted primarily in English with limited interpretation into local languages, potentially undermining informed community participation. The Business & Human Rights Centre invited Thungela Resources to respond to these allegations, but the company did not provide a response.