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A clash of cultures (and lawyers): Anglo Platinum and mine-affected communities in Limpopo Province, South Africa

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  • Farrell, Leanne A.
  • Hamann, Ralph
  • Mackres, Eric

Abstract

The human rights related controversies surrounding Anglo Platinum's Mogalakwena mine in South Africa's Limpopo Province hit the world stage in 2008, attracting public scrutiny and instigating much debate in the realm of international business and human rights discussions. We provide an in-depth analysis of the controversies at Mogalakwena, and Anglo Platinum's responses. This case study contributes to ongoing debates on mining company-community relations in the context of the emerging business and human rights agenda, specifically with respect to the notion of human rights ‘due diligence’. We argue that the Mogalakwena case study illustrates the risks of companies adhering to and emphasizing the technical and logistical facets of due diligence, without sufficient attention to the relational, communicative and emergent aspects, which are closely tied to corporate culture. We highlight the complexities of company-community relationships, with particular reference to the issues of legitimate community representation and participatory decision-making, and discuss the role that organizational culture plays in exacerbating or mitigating corporate-community conflict. The case study demonstrates how legal challenges often exacerbate rather than resolve the conflicts that arise due to a clash between corporate and community cultures. We suggest the need for corporate leaders to become more conscious of this cultural dimension of effective social management, particularly when interacting with communities whose cultures are markedly different from those of business corporations.

Suggested Citation

  • Farrell, Leanne A. & Hamann, Ralph & Mackres, Eric, 2012. "A clash of cultures (and lawyers): Anglo Platinum and mine-affected communities in Limpopo Province, South Africa," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 194-204.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jrpoli:v:37:y:2012:i:2:p:194-204
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2011.05.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Veldhuizen, Caroline & Desouza, Kevin C. & Bandara, Wasana & Chang, Artemis, 2022. "How much is not enough: Corporate social responsibility and beyond in the resources sector," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    2. Mtero, Farai, 2017. "Rural livelihoods, large-scale mining and agrarian change in Mapela, Limpopo, South Africa," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 190-200.
    3. Veronica Devenin & Constanza Bianchi, 2018. "Soccer fields? What for? Effectiveness of corporate social responsibility initiatives in the mining industry," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(5), pages 866-879, September.
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    6. Kemp, Deanna & Worden, Sandy & Owen, John R., 2016. "Differentiated social risk: Rebound dynamics and sustainability performance in mining," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 19-26.
    7. Lochner Marais & Etienne Nel, 2016. "The dangers of growing on gold: Lessons for mine downscaling from the Free State Goldfields, South Africa," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 31(1-2), pages 282-298, February.
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    10. John R. Owen & Deanna Kemp, 2024. "Corporate Responses to Community Grievance: Voluntarism and Pathologies of Practice," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 189(1), pages 55-68, January.
    11. van der Ploeg, Lidewij & Vanclay, Frank, 2018. "Challenges in implementing the corporate responsibility to respect human rights in the context of project-induced displacement and resettlement," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 210-222.
    12. Badera, Jarosław & Kocoń, Paweł, 2015. "Moral panic related to mineral development projects – Examples from Poland," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 29-36.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Mining; Human rights; Corporate social responsibility; Resettlement; Culture; South Africa;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L72 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Primary Products and Construction - - - Mining, Extraction, and Refining: Other Nonrenewable Resources
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility
    • O22 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - Project Analysis
    • Q01 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - Sustainable Development
    • Q34 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation - - - Natural Resources and Domestic and International Conflicts

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