Sustainable Development in the South African Mining SectorCronje JF1*, Chenga C1*1. North-West University, Potchefstroom, South AfricaThe mining sector in South Africa has enjoyed decades of profiteering and unchecked neglect of developmental needs of surrounding communities. Most of the communities surrounding South African mines are therefore synonymous with social problems that include poverty, disease, unemployment, adult illiteracy, poor housing, family disorganisation and migration. Recently, external forces such as globalisation, the government, the Mining Charter and the communities have attempted to put pressure on mining organisations in South Africa to start behaving like a corporate citizen; taking social responsibilities and work towards sustainable development in the areas that they operate. This paper is based on research commissioned by the Lonmin Platinum Mine in the North-West Province in South Africa to ascertain community developmental needs according to the stakeholders’ perceptions. The research entailed undertaking focus groups and interviews with members of the surrounding communities and other interested parties. Perceptions of sustainable development differed between Lonmin and the communities in terms of:
In response to hunger and poverty the communities focused on fast money making projects that may or may not have much impact on sustainable development. For Lonmin, as a profit making company, sustainable development has been rhetoric used to keep onlookers and the government happy by initiating small semi-cottage industries with short lifespan because of limited investment and involvement. Whilst at the same time, Lonmin is also trying to keep the shareholders happy by not interfering with profits. The challenge for the researchers is to unite these diverse agendas into a common goal of achieving sustainable development. |
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