Stretching along South Africa's Wild Coast, Pondoland is home to the Mpondo people, whose lives have long been shaped by a deep connection to the land. Rich in biodiversity and sustained through subsistence farming, the region has become the centre of a decades-long struggle over the proposed mining of its titanium-rich coastal dunes.

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Produced over two assignments for Le Monde and GOOD Magazine, this body of work documents the social, political and environmental tensions surrounding the proposed mining development in Xolobeni. What began as a debate over resource extraction evolved into a profound conflict over land rights, traditional leadership, environmental stewardship and the future of one of South Africa's last largely untouched coastlines.

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For many residents, the land represents far more than economic value. It is the foundation of identity, culture and community. As divisions deepened, allegations of intimidation and violence emerged, culminating in the assassination of anti-mining activist Sikhosiphi "Bazooka" Rhadebe in 2016, drawing international attention to the conflict.

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These photographs explore the relationship between land, identity and power, revealing how competing visions of progress can reshape not only a landscape, but the lives and histories of the people who call it home.