Mineral Commodities Ltd. and its Mineral Sands Resources (Pty.) Ltd. unit sued environmental activists for defamation over their remarks about the company's Xolobeni mineral sands project and Tormin operations in South Africa, according to a May 29 news release.

Mineral Commodities has been facing fierce opposition on the properties due to alleged violations of environmental laws, a Fin24.com report said. The company previously said it is planning follow-up meetings this year to resolve community issues about mining in Xolobeni.

In one of three cases, Mineral Commodities sued two former lawyers from the Centre For Environmental Rights, Tracey Davies and Christine Reddell, and West Coast community activist, Davine Cloete, for a total of 1.25 million South African rand for alleged defamatory statements made at the University of Cape Town’s Summer School in 2017.

The cases will be heard in the Western Cape High Court on May 29. The Centre for Environmental Rights slammed the company for using the lawsuit to intimidate critics.

Fin24.com said a company spokesperson could not be reached for comment.