A group of Western Cape wine farmers are seething over the actions of a government-owned mining company which they claim has been allowed to threaten their livelihoods.

Last month, a Pretoria based consultancy informed some Kuils River, Durbanville and Stellenbosch farmers about prospecting for minerals on their land.

Approximately 100 farmers and environmentalists held a meeting at the Durbanville Town Hall on Wednesday.

The farmers vented their frustration at the African Exploration Mining and Finance Corporation for its proposed digging on their prime land.

Others said they were convinced the corporation wanted to expropriate the land for housing developments and was using mining as a smoke screen.

One of the farmers said the mining proposal reminded him of the Zimbabwean land grabs.

People opposing the activity have until next Tuesday to submit written objections to the GCS consultancy agency.