3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
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Item Mining's contested future :employee and community participation in South Africa's mining charters(2019) Du Plessis, Gideon EdwardThis research report examines a multi-stakeholder attempt by the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) to introduce a range of institutional structures to ensure meaningful participation in the transformation of the mining industry. The majority of South Africans were systematically marginalised and thus prevented from meaningful participation and ownership in the mining sector through colonial rule and the exclusionary policies of apartheid. To redress these historical inequalities, the DMR developed the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act (28 of 2002) (MPRDA) and the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Charter for the South African Mining and Minerals Industry ("Mining Charter") as a regulatory instrument in 2004. To increase employee participation and development of the mining community, the Act introduced compulsory future forums and social and labour plans to complement the objectives of the Mining Charter. The latter was developed with specific measurable targets in mind to effect transformation of the industry. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy1 (DMRE) conducted a comprehensive assessment of the progress of transformation in the mining industry in 2009 and measured it against the objectives and agreed targets contained in the Mining Charter (Department of Mineral Resources, 2004). The identified shortcomings resulted in the publication of a revised charter in 2010. A further assessment, conducted in 2015, identified shortcomings in the implementation of the various elements of the revised charter. Against this backdrop, the DMR initiated a process to review the Charter with the intention to further strengthen the Mining Charter as a tool for effecting meaningful broad-based transformation of the mining and minerals industry. The initial review process, which commenced in 2016, was a failure in terms of social partner participation and subsequently, a second (and more inclusive) review process was enacted in 2018. This report investigates the process of constructing the Mining Charter (Mining Charter III, 2018) and assesses the extent to which meaningful participation (decision-making and financial terms) has been introduced in the mining sector by means of the revised Charter. At the time of the negotiations, the department was called the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) – which was changed to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) in June 2019. DMR and DMRE will be used interchangeably depending on the context. Past attempts at the institutional transfer of the German co-determination system in South Africa failed because they did not account for South Africa’s distinct industrial relations traditions and the socio-economic context. The researcher demonstrates how the clause providing for employee and community representation on company boards was removed from the final Charter and why the innovative attempt to include the “community” in charter consultations failed to gain support. On the positive side, the failed employee share ownership plans (ESOPs) will be replaced with an employee ownership and shareholding scheme provided for in the new charter, where mining employees will receive 5% carried interest shares, at no cost to the employee. This report also discusses the social partners’ responses to the abovementioned provision. Mine communities will furthermore become the beneficiaries of 5% carried interest shares or enjoy the equity equivalent thereof. Furthermore, a trust is to be established to strengthen social and labour plans with community and company representatives that will jointly identify and implement projects. This means that mining communities will receive a formal avenue to influence decision-making about development projects. Despite the attempt to increase ownership and meaningful participation through the new Charter, the challenges of transformation in the South African mining sector go well beyond traditional notions of employee participation and community development. There is also the migrant labour system, a legacy of discriminatory laws that disrupted communities and family life, but also created the dynamic of “us” and “them” between host communities and communities from labour-sending areas. The research report also focuses on the types of complexities adding to the mining industry’s contested future.Item The circular economy: a review in milieu of the South African mining industry(2019) Parker, RaineMining, as a global economy, provides revenues and development to countries. It generally follows the Linear Economy (LE), which takes, makes and disposes of resources. However, mining wastes pose significant risk to both human health and the environment (Mehta, et al., 2018). One such waste, acid mine drainage (AMD), is considered one of the biggest environmental challenges facing the global mining industry (Hudson-Edwards, et al., 2011). With the increasing global water issues, the current economic model used in mining needs altering. A better option would be implementing Circular Economy (CE). The CE is “a regenerative system in which resource input and waste, emission, and energy leakage are minimised by slowing, closing, and narrowing material and energy loops” (Geissdoerfer, et al., 2017, p. 3 & 10). The main benefit of CE being reusing water, recycling water, enhancing renewable resources and eradicating toxic chemicals in waste water management. The aim of this research report is to assess the uptake of CE in gold mining in South Africa and to see if this methodology is supported by South African Legislation. This is answered using a mixed methodology approach using qualitative and quantitative data and a case study looking at five gold mining companies in South Africa, namely AngloGold Ashanti, DRDGOLD, Harmony, Gold Fields and Sibanye Stillwater. Five main CE principles relevant to gold mining have been identified, namely: (1) Facilitating system effectiveness; (2) Preserving and enhancing renewable resources; (3) Optimising resource yields; (4) Collaboration and (5) Enhanced business models which entail transparent regulatory reporting. CE principles are mostly facilitated by South African legislation, with the exception of water regeneration, restorative systems and incentivised benefits to implement the CE. Similarly, the case study, focusing on water management, indicate that the level of CE implementation in the gold mining sectors in South Africa has increased over the past 10-year period by all five mining houses. However, cross industry collaboration is lacking with miners not collaborating with other industries on the water issues faced by all industries. Positively an increase in environment data in later years can be seen by the companies studied. Thus, this research looking at CE in gold mining waste water management could equally be relevant in other mining industries both in South Africa and globally.Item The socio-economic factors of Medupi Power Station on Lephalale(2018) Nyembe, ThembiThe research explores the socio-economic causes of Medupi Power Station on Lephalale. The mineral-energy outlook of Lephalale is attractive to the global players whilst the Lephalale Local Municipality’s authority is proving to be limited over the area. The knowledge of the community is outshined by the global players eager to invest. The “positivist approach” in public policy leads some to consider markets as the most effective means for social decisions, hence a reliance on Eskom’s corporate investments to offset damages. The idea seamlessly adjoins the “post-positivist approach” which acknowledges the vital role of conflict and political actors in the public policy arena. Any policy process is an outcome of both the “positivist and the post-positivist approach” (Howlett, Ramesh & Perl (2009). Eskom’s corporate social responsibility/investment is inadequate to address the socio-economically and ecologically-subjugated communities, which occasionally resort to violent protest. A balance between profit and social needs is unavoidable. Leadership should ensure that the policies and practice safeguard the interest of future generations. This qualitative research employs documents and interviews to describe Medupi’s socio-economic factors on Lephalale. The Lephalale Local Municipality, political parties, and the Lephalale Library are key participants.Item Mine closure in small scale diamond mining in South Africa: a review of policies and practices(2018) Tagne, Josee Sorelle NguekamMineral commodities are finite resources and their extraction can be understood using the mining life cycle which comprises of the following stages, namely: prospecting and exploration, development, extraction, and closure and reclamation. In the past, focus was largely directed to the first three stages of the mining value chain. This resulted in mine closure not receiving much attention. The increasing impacts of mining on the environment has forced government and mining companies to consider mine closure in policy and legislative frameworks as well as in the planning of mining operations. Over the years, several guidelines have been developed to serve as best practices for the mine closure. Moreover, mine closure has been included in mining policy and legislations for a majority of countries. While considerable inroads have been made in terms of regulating mine closure; the focus of governments has been inclined towards large-scale mining operations. The majority of the mine closure guidelines and provisions within mining laws have been designed for large-scale operations. As a result, mine closure remains a gap in the small-scale mining (SSM) sector. The SSM sector continues to play a significant role in the socio-economic development in the remote areas. It is reported that the sector currently employs more than 40 million globally. Just like any mining activity, the SSM sector also had negative impacts on the environment. Unfortunately, if not conducted properly, the SSM activities can result in negative effects on the communities and the environment both during the operation and after a mine ceases its activities. This study aimed to understand mine closure in SSM using South Africa as a case study. The study entailed reviewing the policy and legislative framework regulating this sector, determining the mine closure practice in the sector in order to assess whether there exists a gap between the policy and practices. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods was used to conduct the research and data was collected in the Northern Cape in South Africa. The research included a review of the literature and an assessment of mining application and closure data. In addition, key informants were conducted with the practitioners from government Departments and the private consultancies to gain insights into mine closure practices in the SSM sector. The research revealed that there is a gap between policies and practices within the SSM sector as it regards mine closure. Insufficient financial provision and the complexity of the legislation were the main hindrances to efficient mine closure. In addition, the lack of knowledge and skills, and the lack of enforcement and compliance were also identified as barriers in the sector. The study concluded by proposing strategies that government, miners and institutions could follow to improve mine closure policies and practices in the SSM sector. As a starting point, a recommendation has been proposed towards the rehabilitation levy and its calculation. Government should reconsider the legislation and provide training and workshops on policies and technical issues; miners should integrate mitigations strategies in the closure plan. Furthermore, there is a need for supporting organization and institutions to provide support to miners particularly in the areas of technical education and funding assistanceItem A refined resource model for Tshepong mine(2018) Du Toit, RuanThe purpose of this research is to generate a refined Mineral Resource model for Tshepong mine by validating and cleaning the sampling data base that has historically been subjected to hard coded grade capping and by harnessing the assay data of check samples. It is standard practice to chip a check sample at the bottom contact of each underground sample section. An additional experimental variogram value at a lag of 8cm was calculated and used in the modelling of the variograms, improving the estimation of the nugget effect. No recorded reason or justification for the capping was found and the capped values did not have context in current estimations. It was necessary to revert to the original values prior to the application of hard-coded values resulting in a validated, raw and error free sampling database. The geological domains were updated based on updated facies plans and a value trend analyses. Exploratory data analyses were performed within the six newly defined geozones confirming that the domaining was effective and the evidence of stationarity within the geozones was deemed acceptable. Variogram contours maps, at a sampling grid scale as well as at two regularised block grid scales, were used in the modelling of the spatial continuity of the mineralisation within each geozone. Ordinary Kriging is used for estimation into 30m x 30m blocks and kriging neighbourhood analyses were carried out using the sampling grid variogram models. Simple Macro Kriging is used for the estimation into 60m x 60m and 120m x 120m blocks. The refined estimation model was validated by cross-validations (jack-knifing), and comparisons of the grade distributions and mean grades. Reconciliation between the old and the refined model highlighted differences that are interpreted and accounted for. This research contributed towards improving the quality of Mineral Resource model for Tshepong mine by delivering a validated assay database and exploiting the available information and knowledge and the inclusion of recommendations for future Mineral Resource model updates.Item Role of state-owned development finance institutions in fostering environmental compliance by small-scale miners in South Africa(2017) Manzi, BrightonSouth Africa’s SDFIs have potential to play a critical role in fostering environmental compliance in the mining industry. Their role is particularly important in the small-scale and junior mining sector which is usually shunned by private finance institutions because of high environmental credit risk. Equipped with knowledge and experience of working with clients across different sectors and their potential leadership role in technology transfer, SDFIs can leverage their position in acting as trusted third party environmental regulation enforcers. Financial institutions have long been criticised for showing little interest in environmental impacts of their clients while concentrating on profit maximisation. This study sought to investigate the response by financial institutions to this criticism through evaluating the role of SDFIs in fostering environmental compliance by small-scale and junior mining companies which are generally viewed as having a poor environmental compliance record. Through the twin qualitative research methods of interviews and document analysis, the role of three state-owned development finance institutions in fostering environmental regulation compliance by small-scale mining enterprises in South Africa was evaluated. The study revealed that SDFIs explicitly and implicitly provide a wide range of products and services which help small-scale and junior miners in complying with environmental regulations. The study also found that, while SDFIs are beginning to adopt market-based mechanisms to encourage environmental compliance, they still heavily rely on command and control mechanisms as a way of mitigating environmentally related risks arising from financing mining companies.Item Platinum politics: the rise, and rise, of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU)(2017) Munshi, NaadiraThe massacre of 34 workers in Marikana in August 2012 represented a turning point in labour relations in South Africa. The killings, and the show of force that accompanied it, had a direct impact on trade unionism in the platinum belt, where the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) has enjoyed remarkable growth, compared to the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM). The events of 2012 helped catapult AMCU to lead a historic five-month long strike in 2014 that brought the platinum industry to its knees. The 2014 strike indelibly altered labour relations in the sector. This dissertation aims to understand the character of AMCU on the platinum belt in the aftermath of the Marikana massacre. Tracing AMCU’s rise on the platinum mines from 2012 to 2014, the dissertation concludes with three features that emerge from AMCU’s organising style. These are its insistence on a non-partisan, independent trade union movement, its return to a democratic, workplace-centred struggle and a call for wageled economic growthItem Valuable or devalued? An ethnography of mine work in crisis(2015) Sheerin, Anne MarshallResearch in the mining community of Carletonville focused on how individuals negotiate and contest different value orientations in trying to construct a workable moral economy. Based on in-depth qualitative interviews and observations of respondents from lower and higher wage classes, the report deconstructs the elements of differential value sets that are redefining and sometimes destabilizing the moral economy and underlining views of inequality. Wage disputes are seen not only as mine workers' expressions of economic injustice but perhaps more crucially as a form of control and protection of their craft and status. The dominance of global economic governance and decision-making is leading to more acute internal divergences but can also be a starting point for a discussion about the impact of conflicts in social values.Item Breaking down gender barriers: exploring experiences of underground female mine workers in a mining company(2017) Ledwaba, Sally KebaabetsweWomen have previously been discouraged from pursuing careers in the mining industry given the nature of the work in the field and the physical strength needed to do the work. However, literature has reported an increase in the number of women penetrating the field in recent years (Benya, 2009; Singer, 2002). New legislative frameworks in South Africa, such as the Mining Charter of 2002 (amended 2010) and the Mineral Petroleum Resources Development Act have made provisions for females to be absorbed into the field of mining, but this has not gone without challenges. This study thus sought to gain in-depth understanding of the experiences of underground female mine workers and demystify gender barriers that affect the functioning of women within the mining sector. The study was qualitative in nature and adopted a case study design to richly understand the phenomenon. The study used semi-structured interviews to collect data. Ten participants and two key informants were selected using purposive sampling technique. Data collected from participants was analysed using thematic analysis, in conjunction with the literature reviewed. The study addressed the social and human needs of female mine workers. It was found that, the mining industry has not been progressive in adequately addressing the unique needs of women who work underground. The study was essential in unravelling the experiences of female mine workers and thus made recommendations that can be used to introduce workplace appropriate interventions to be implemented to ensure that underground women mine workers are well accommodated within the industry.Item The effectiveness of the Mining Qualifications Authority’s monitoring and evaluation system(2016) Gamakulu, Sitembiso;The South African Government set up the Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) in 1996 under the Mine Health and Safety Act, 29 of 1996 to train mineworkers on health and safety issues to minimise injuries and deaths. Later the then Minister of labour reestablished the Authority as a Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) in 2000 when SETAs were set up to replace the old Industry Training Boards (ITBs) (Skills Development Act, 97 of 1998). The mandate of SETAs includes providing for learnerships, internships, undergraduate bursaries, graduate development programmes, and apprenticeships. These Authorities have several challenges. These include poor governance, lack of accountability, Lack of and poor quality data, inadequate information management, and absent or ineffective monitoring and evaluation arrangements (Ministerial Task Team on Performance of SETAs, 2013). These challenges have not spared the MQA and has led to declining performance for two consecutive financial years; namely, 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 (MQA Annual Reports, 2012-2013 and 2013-2014. However, only effective monitoring and evaluation arrangements can track and assess reliably how the Authority is performing and why. Therefore, we need to examine the Authority’s monitoring and evaluation system. To undertake this examination, the study posed two questions. To understand our research context, we reviewed literature relating to the history and description of the Authority and the establishment of the SETAs in general. We further undertook a research problem analysis to understand the history and description of monitoring and evaluation in the South African public sector. To do this, we reviewed briefly monitoring and evaluation systems of other developed and developing countries globally. From the reviewed literature, we developed a conceptual framework to guide our research in collecting, processing, and analysing of results. Relatedly, we developed an explanatory framework that helped us in interpreting our findings. Some of our findings pointed to the weaknesses of the MQA’s monitoring and evaluation system in such areas of monitoring and evaluation organisational capacity and documented monitoring and evaluation reporting processes and system. We concluded by providing some recommendations to strengthen the MQA’s monitoring and evaluation system