"Mining communities’ grievances ‘are becoming intense’", 13 Sept 2016

Panellists [at a hearing at the South African Human Rights Commission] said there was a growing discontent among miners‚ trade unions and mining communities over low wages and poor living conditions‚ and this had sparked a wave of strikes and protests across the sector over the past few years...The commission said it had received numerous complaints about the negative consequences of mining in Mpumalanga‚ KwaZulu-Natal‚ Limpopo and Gauteng. Consultations have been held with these communities. The commission said the complaints lodged by communities include:

• Failure by holders of prospecting‚ mining‚ exploration or production rights to comply with the legal framework‚ including regulatory requirements and corporate social obligations;

• Failures in compliance monitoring and enforcement;

• Insufficient consultation with interested and affected parties‚ lack of transparency and limited access to information;

• Limited co-operation and/or collaboration between mining companies‚ traditional authorities‚ local government and communities;

• The creation of tension and division within communities as a result of mining operations; and

• Limited development and social upliftment of communities affected by mining...