Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM): the grey space of extra-legality in South Africa

Abstract

The exploration of a Grey Space within the ASM sector allows for the exploration of a niche that operates outside of the formal but still operates within the capital system. Extra-legality sees and constructs a different view of space which is outside of the box of the formal norms. This is a relative perception or lens of understanding socio- economic drivers. This is at the core of the law of relativity and through research we not only interrogate the social notion of one divided by one (Formalisation), but this research furthermore interrogates the notion of zero divided by zero (extra-legality) which at its core finds personified expression in the real word. This dissertation finds relevance in the nuances of formalization and the resultant themes associated with the persistence of informality. This dissertation further maps the impact of ASM through extra-legality and uses this information to map out the unrecognized spaces referred to as the Grey Space. It is the realization of this dissertation that the lived realities of ASM communities differ per commodity and per area, it is thus imperative to deploy strategies that are specific and unique to an area. Furthermore, the ASM space is seeing a paradigm change in its state of reference, moving from a survival strategy towards social entrepreneurship. The ASM space is a reservoir of dead capital as referred to by De Soto,2001 and with a continued use of alternative strategies as suggested by Ostrom, the ASM sector is coming into its own nuanced version of recognition and capital accumulation. The underlying perception and understanding that this dissertation advocates for is developing ASM strategies and frameworks through Characterizing ASM as a grey space and through adapting various principles as a baseline or benchmark of actualizing the ASM paradigm shift.