While mining is the cornerstone of many African economies, the industry has a dark side. Across the continent, millions are struggling with the environmental, health and social implications of mining. “Sustainability should be a strategic imperative.”

By Miriam Mannak, Cape Town

“Some of South Africa’s mineral-rich areas are home to the country’s most vulnerable communities. As a general rule, large-scale mining is an enclave activity that operates on a national level and is detached from the local level. As a result, it often marginalizes local communities,” said Mamphela Ramphele, chairperson of the gold-mining company Gold Fields and a director at mining conglomerate Anglo American, during the world’s largest mining investment conference Mining Indaba 2012, which took place from 6 to 9 February in Cape Town, South Africa.

“A lot of firms say that the problems linked to mining are beyond their control. They should however realize and acknowledge that the extraction of minerals has a hefty social cost,” said Ramphele, one of South Africa’s most powerful businesswomen.

“Companies must own the problem and use their innovative power to find solutions. Sustainability should be one of their strategic imperatives and companies should contribute to development.”

No water usage licenses
Melissa Fourie, executive director of the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), said she appreciated Ramphele’s statements, but added that mining companies should do more to stick to their promises around sustainability.

“A lot of companies don’t simply comply with the law. We know of 84 mining firms in South Africa that operate without water usage licenses. This means that it is impossible to know how much water they use and what they discard,” she explained.

Desperate for jobs
On the Mining Indaba’s third day, the CER, which aims to promote environmental justice in South Africa, organized a seminar on the social, health and environmental issues linked to the mining industry.

“It has to be noted that it is often smaller mining companies that fail to comply with environmental legislation, not the big ones that are perpetually in the public eye,” Fourie said.

She emphasized that it is a misconception that local communities are against mining. “People in South Africa are desperate for jobs and appreciate what mining can do for them financially. They are however worried about a lack of information, not knowing what their rights are, loss of land, safety of their children, water pollution and their health – among other things.”

Extraordinarily unfair
John Clarke, a veteran social worker who has visited many mining communities across South Africa, agreed.

“People are not against mining, but they are against the implications. Take the Ga-Puka community in Limpopo Province, for instance, which is struggling as a result of the platinum mining activities,” said Clarke.

“AngloPlat [Anglo American Platinum Limited] has made extraordinary unfair deals in terms of rental payments, to be paid to the community for using the land. Platinum mining produces large volumes of ore and therefore you need large plots of land for the tailing dumps.”

Environmental degradation
There’s also the environmental degradation of the area. “Many people in Ga-Puka complain because of the fine dust, which is causing all sorts of respiratory problems,” said Clarke. Mining operations are affecting water resources too. “Platinum processes use a lot of water. Ga-Puka is a drought-prone area. You get the idea.”

Abandoned and old mines cause water pollution and Acid Mine Drainage (AMD). AMD is the outflow of acidic water that is polluted with high concentrations of metals, sulphides and salts from derelict mine shafts, and discharge from open pits and mine waste dumps.

“South Africa has some 6000 derelict and ownerless mines,” Fourie said. “The problem is that more and more mines are coming near the end of their lives. People are aware of this problem and are rightly worried.”