Skip to main content
Log in

Mining, Corporate Social Responsibility and the "Community": The Case of Rio Tinto, Richards Bay Minerals and the Mbonambi

  • Published:
Journal of Business Ethics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Mining companies have long had a questionable reputation for social responsibility, especially in developing countries. In recent years, mining companies operating in developing countries have come under increased pressure as opponents have placed them under greater public scrutiny. Mining companies have responded by developing global corporate social responsibility strategies as part of their larger global business strategies. In these strategies, a prominent place is given to their relationship with local communities. For business ethics, one basic issue is whether such an approach to corporate responsibility is likely to effectively address the development concerns of local communities in developing countries. This paper addresses this question by investigating how the corporate social responsibility agenda of a major minor company has been implemented by one of its subsidiaries in South Africa.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Appadurai, A.: 1986, ‘Introduction: Commodities and the Politics of Value', in A. Appadurai (ed.), The Social Life of Things: Commodities in Cultural Perspective (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge).

    Google Scholar 

  • Asia-Pacific Human Rights Network: 2001, 'Associating with the Wrong Company: Rio Tinto's Record and the Global Compact', July 16, http://www.corpwatch.org/un/updates/2001/ riotintob.html.

  • Billiton: 1998, Annual Report (Billiton, London).

    Google Scholar 

  • Botha, D.: 1994, ‘The Changing Business of Business in South Africa: Some Comments on Developments in the Scope and Control of the Social Responsibility in South Africa', SA Merc.I.J.(6), 90–96.

  • Broad, A.: 1997, ‘Mining Versus the Environment', MBM (June), 30–33.

  • Burger, J.: 1987, Report from the Frontier.The State of the World's Indigenous Peoples (Zed Books, London).

    Google Scholar 

  • Carter, A. S.: 1997, Community Participation as an Indicator of Social Performance at International Mining Projects (Mining and Environment Research Network, Bath).

    Google Scholar 

  • Cochrane, G.: 1999, Interview with Author. London. 25 May 1999.

  • Cohen, A. P.: 1986, ‘Symbolism and Social Change: Matters of Life and Death in Whalsay, Shetland', MAN 20(2), 307–324.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cragg, W., D. Pearson and J. Cooney: 1995, ‘Ethics, Surface Mining and the Environment', Resources Policy 21(4), 229–235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crewe, E. and E. Harrison: 1998, Whose Development? An Ethnography of Aid (Zed Books, London and New York).

    Google Scholar 

  • Crooke, R. and J. Manor: 1998, Democracy and Decentralisation in South Asia and West Africa: Participation, Accountability and Performance (Cambridge University Press Cambridge).

    Google Scholar 

  • Crowson, P.: 1998, ‘Environment and Community Issues and the Mining Industry', Natural Resources Forum 22(2), 127–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drillbits and Tailings: 2000, 'Rio Tinto Kelian Mine Shut Down by Community Blockade', 5(8), May 16, accessed at: http://www.moles.org/Project-Underground/drillbits/5_08/1.html.

  • Eriksen, T. H.: 1993, Ethnicity and Nationalism: Anthropological Perspectives (Pluto Press, London).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fabig, H. and R. Boele: 1999, ‘The Changing Nature of NGO Activity in a Globalising World: Pushing the Corporate Responsibility Movement', in Globalisation and the Governance of the Environment, International Development Studies Bulletin 30(3), 58–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fabig, H. and P. Kapelus: 2000, 'Corporate Responsibility: A Control and Survival Discourse?', paper presented at a conference: Reconstructing Human Rights-A Critical Project for the 21st Century?, University of Sussex, Brighton.

  • Ferguson, J.: 1998, ‘Transnational Topographies of Power: Beyond "the State" and "Civil Society" in the Study of African Politics', in H. S. Manussen and S. Arnfred (eds.), Concepts and Metaphors: Ideologies, Narratives and Myths in Development Discourse (International Development Studies, Roskilde University), Occasional Paper no. 19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonsalves, M.: 1999, Interview with Author. London. 26 May 1999.

  • Godsell, B.: 1994, ‘The RDP: A View from Business', South African Labour Bulletin 18(1), 7–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grillo, R. D.: 1997, ‘Discourses of Development: The View from Anthropology', in R. D. Grillo and R. L. Stirrat (eds.), Discourses of Development.Anthropological Perspectives (Berg, Oxford).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hannerz, U.: 1996, Transnational Connections.Culture, People, Places (Routledge, London).

    Google Scholar 

  • ICEM: 1998a, Rio Tinto Tainted Titan-The Stakeholders Report 1997 (ICEM, Belgium).

    Google Scholar 

  • ICEM: 1998b, Rio Tinto Behind the Facade-The Stakeholders Report 1998 (ICEM, Belgium).

    Google Scholar 

  • ICFTU: 1998. ICFTU comments on Rio Tinto's 'the way we work; our statement on business practice', accessed at: http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument. asp?Index=990917144&Language=EN.

  • IIED: 2000, 'Mining Minerals and Sustainable Development', accessed at: http://www.iied.org/ mmsd/.

  • Innes, D.: 1992, ‘Business and Social Change', in D. Innes, M. Kentridge and H. Perold (eds.), Power and Profit: Politics, Labour and Business in South Africa (Oxford University Press, Cape Town).

    Google Scholar 

  • Keeton, M.: 1997, ‘The Anglo American and De Beers Chairman's Fund at Work', Optima (July), 13–22.

  • Keeton, M.: 1999, Interview with Author. Johannesburg. 17 June, 1999.

  • Kennedy, D.: 2001, 'Rio Tinto: Global Compact Violator-PT Kelian: A Case Study of Global Operations' (Corporate Watch), July 13, 2001, accessed at: http://www.corpwatch.org/un/ updates/2001/riotinto.html

  • Khubeka, J.: 1999, Interview with Author. Richards Bay. 23 June, 1999.

  • Marais, E.: 1999, Interview with Author, 21 June 1999, Richards Bay.

  • McMahon, G.: 1998, ‘Mining and the Community-A Synthesis', in G. McMahon (ed.), Mining and the Community: Results of the Quito Conference (World Bank, Washington), EMT Occasional Paper no. 11, 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, J.: 1996, Business as Partners in Development (The Prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum, London).

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, J.: 1998, Building Competitiveness and Communities.How World Class Companies are Creating Shareholder Value and Societal Value (The Prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum and The United Nations Development Programme, London).

  • O'Brien, R. M. J.: 1998, Business-Education Partnerships with Specific Reference to the Educational Involvement of Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) as a Case Study of Partnership in KwaZulu-Natal (University of Natal, Durban).

  • O'Dowd, M.: 1997, ‘On Backing Initiative', Optima (July), 5–7.

  • O'Fairclough, C.: 1999, ‘Indigenous People and Mineral Taxation Regimes', Resources Policy 24(4), 187–198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pettifer, J.: 1998, ‘The Age of Post-paternalism', Review 47, 3–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richards Bay Minerals (RBM): 1998, Community Development, http://www.rbm.co.za.

  • Rio Tinto: 2001, Human Rights Guidance: Guidance for Managers on Implementing the Human Rights Policy in 'The Way We Work’ (Rio Tinto, London).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rio Tinto.: 1999, ‘Forward Look', Review 40, 16–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rio Tinto.: 1998, The Way We Work (Rio Tinto, London).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rio Tinto.: 1997, Communities Policy Guidelines (Rio Tinto, London).

    Google Scholar 

  • Roussouw, D.: 1994, Business Ethics (Halfway House, Southern Book Publishers).

  • Ruffini, A.: 1998, ‘Bafokeng Succeeds at Upliftment Through Wise Utilisation of Mineral Resources', African Mining 3(6), 85–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sepei, S.: 1999, Interview with Author. Johannesburg. 17 June, 1999.

  • Shore, C. and S. Wright (eds): 1997, Anthropology of Policy.Critical Perspectives on Governance and Power (Routledge, London).

    Google Scholar 

  • Solomon, M.: 1997, ‘Ready for the Fall? Downscaling in the Minerals Industry', Indicator South Africa 14(2), 34–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stirrat, J. and H. Henkel.: 1997, ‘The Development Gift: The Problem of Reciprocity in the NGO World', Annals of American Academy of Political and Social Science 554, 66–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strathern, M.: 1992, ‘Parts and Wholes: Refiguring Relationships in a Post-plural World', in A. Kuper (ed.), Conceptualizing Society (Routledge, London).

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomson, I.: 1997, 'Mineral Exploration and the Challenge of Community Relations', paper presented at conference 'Mining and the Community', Quito Ecuador, 6–8 May.

  • Uthungulu Regional Council: 1998, Uthungulu Regional Development Plan, 1998–2002 (Richards Bay, South Africa).

    Google Scholar 

  • Uthungulu Regional Council: 1998, Land Development Objectives (Richards Bay, South Africa).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wackernagel, M. and W. E. Rees: 1996. Our Ecological Footprint: Reducing Human Impact on the Earth (New Society Publishers, Gabriola Island, BC and Philadelphia, PA).

  • Wilson, J.: 1998, 'New Frontiers for Placer Dome and the mining industry', CIM Bulletin, 45–46.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kapelus, P. Mining, Corporate Social Responsibility and the "Community": The Case of Rio Tinto, Richards Bay Minerals and the Mbonambi. Journal of Business Ethics 39, 275–296 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016570929359

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1016570929359

Navigation