A Multi-disciplinary study exploring the challenges facing the mining industry - a specific focus on platinum around Rustenburg in the North West

STATUS: Completed
PROJECT LEADER:Van der Bergh, GM (Mr Gray), Karuaihe, ST (Dr Selma)
OTHER TEAM MEMBERS: Booysen, AS (Ms Denise), Ndlovu, MP (Mr Phumlani), Hart, TGB (Dr Tim), Jonas, S (Mr Siyanda), Turok, IN (Prof. Ivan), Makiwane, MB (Prof. Monde), Sobane, KMM (Dr Konosoang), Molokomme, MR (Miss ), Mti, S.N. (Ms Sehlule), Owusu-Sekyere, E (Dr Emmanuel), Masilela, BST (Dr Temba), Ogwang, J.O. (Mr Jeff), Mathebula, JH (Mr Jabulani), Ndinda, C (Dr Catherine)
DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE: ()

Abstract

The spate of labour unrest that resulted in clashes between the police and miners in the Lonmin Marikana mine in 2012 is a cause for concern among the public, policy makers and the mining industry as a whole. The incident resulted in several reports and commentaries that attributed its cause to a wide range of factors including: lack of participatory citizenship, the growing trend of police brutality and factionalism in trade unions, among others. These commentaries, however, overlooked the diversity and complexity of the factors that could have accounted for this unrest, thereby creating a need for in-depth empirical research on the wider socio-economic factors that have accounted for such an incident within the mining industry. As a result, the HSRC has been appointed by the NRF to conduct a multi-disciplinary research study to identify potential socio-economic factors and strengthen the understanding of the multifaceted problems facing the mining industry inclusive of the experiences of the mining houses, workers, mining communities, unions and government.

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