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Mining-Dependent Localities in South Africa: The State of Partnerships for Small Town Local Development

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Abstract

This paper contributes to international writings on partnerships surrounding the local development impacts of mining in the developing world. As a result of radical changes in the policy and institutional environment affecting both the mining sector and local development planning, South Africa is considered to offer ‘good practice’ in partnerships. The results of a national survey on the state of local partnerships in mining-dependent local municipalities are presented. Mining-dependent localities in South Africa are concentrated mainly in the country’s peripheral regions and in many cases are vulnerable, poorly capacitated local municipalities. Although new legislation and requirements for mines to develop social and labour plans has resulted in an improved state of local partnerships, further action is required to maximize the local development potential of mining projects in small towns.

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Notes

  1. In the initial planning for this investigation, it was planned to obtain a counterpart set of interviews from representatives of local mines on their opinion of the state of local government–mining relationships. These interviews were not possible due to lack of cooperation from mines.

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Acknowledgements

For commissioning this research, thanks are extended to the GIZ South African-German Strengthening Local Governance Programme in collaboration with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), and the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME). Special acknowledgement is due to SALGA for their assistance in securing interviews. Thanks are offered Andries de Beer for conducting interviews and Wendy Job for preparation of the diagrams. Useful comments on earlier drafts of this material were obtained from Faith Lawrence and participants at the SALGA ‘Local Government and Mining Round Table’, Sandton, Johannesburg, 24 March 2011. Usual disclaimers apply.

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  1. School of Tourism and Hospitality, Faculty of Management, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Christian M. Rogerson

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  1. Christian M. Rogerson
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Correspondence to Christian M. Rogerson.

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Rogerson, C.M. Mining-Dependent Localities in South Africa: The State of Partnerships for Small Town Local Development. Urban Forum 23, 107–132 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12132-012-9141-5

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