SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF PLATINUM MINING ON
Date
2011-04-13
Authors
Hassan, Imran
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Abstract
Mining is a major economic activity in several countries with
significant contributions to exports and infrastructure
development. Mining is generally viewed as providing an
economic stimulus in the areas/regions where it occurs. In some
areas, the local economy depends almost exclusively on mining.
However, the abundance of resources has not always resulted in
a prosperous populace. Some view resource abundance as a
“blessing” and others as a “curse”. The natural curse thesis holds
that resource abundance is the cause of lesser economic growth
(Buitelaar, 2001). It is also an industry that is often held
responsible for causing environmental damage and social
disruption. This situation is not unique to South Africa, as this
scenario is increasingly manifesting itself in other countries where
mining takes place.
The questions thus are as follows: What are the impacts of
mining, particularly on local communities? To what extent are the
economic benefits arising from mining impacting positively and/or
adversely on the socio-economic development of the local
communities in the area? Is growth translating into human
development?
This study found that the establishment of Anglo Platinum PPrust
has had mixed impacts on locals and hence contradictory views
are held about whether the presence of the mine in Mogalakwena
is proving to be a “blessing” or a “curse”.
Description
MM - P&DM
Keywords
Mines and mining, Platinum mining, Socio-economic impacts