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Resources policy and mine closure in South Africa: The case of the Free State Goldfields

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  • Marais, Lochner

Abstract

There is increasing international pressure to ensure that mining development is aligned with local and national development objectives. In South Africa, legislation requires mining companies to produce Social and Labour Plans, which are aimed at addressing local developmental concerns. Against the background of the new mining legislation in South Africa, this paper evaluates attempts to address mine downscaling in the Free State Goldfields over the past two decades. The analysis shows that despite an improved legislative environment, the outcomes in respect of integrated planning are disappointing, owing mainly to a lack of trust and government incapacity to enact the new legislation. It is argued that legislative changes and a national response in respect of mine downscaling are required.

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  • Marais, Lochner, 2013. "Resources policy and mine closure in South Africa: The case of the Free State Goldfields," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(3), pages 363-372.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jrpoli:v:38:y:2013:i:3:p:363-372
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2013.04.004
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Haney, Michael & Shkaratan, Maria, 2003. "Mine closure and its impact on the community : five years after mine closure in Romania, Russia and Ukraine," Policy Research Working Paper Series 3083, The World Bank.
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    3. Andrews-Speed, Philip & Ma, Guo & Shao, Bingjia & Liao, Chenglin, 2005. "Economic responses to the closure of small-scale coal mines in Chongqing, China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 30(1), pages 39-54, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ahmed, Abubakari, 2021. "Biofuel feedstock plantations closure and land abandonment in Ghana: New directions for land studies in Sub-Saharan Africa," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    2. Bainton, Nicholas & Holcombe, Sarah, 2018. "A critical review of the social aspects of mine closure," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 468-478.
    3. Angelien Meggersee & Sevias Guvuriro, 2023. "Economic Sustainability of Small Mining Towns: A Case Study in South Africa," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, December.
    4. Bryan Salgado-Almeida & Daniel A. Falquez-Torres & Paola L. Romero-Crespo & Priscila E. Valverde-Armas & Fredy Guzmán-Martínez & Samantha Jiménez-Oyola, 2022. "Risk Assessment of Mining Environmental Liabilities for Their Categorization and Prioritization in Gold-Mining Areas of Ecuador," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-17, May.
    5. Lochner Marais & Verna Nel & Kholisa Rani & Deidré van Rooyen & Kentse Sesele & Phia van der Watt & Lyndon du Plessis, 2021. "Economic Transitions in South Africa’s Secondary Cities: Governing Mine Closures," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(2), pages 381-392.
    6. Gregory, Gillian H., 2021. "Rendering mine closure governable and constraints to inclusive development in the Andean region," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    7. John Ntema & Lochner Marais & Jan Cloete & Molefi Lenka, 2017. "Social disruption, mine closure and housing policy: evidence from the Free State Goldfields, South Africa," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 41(1), pages 30-41, February.
    8. Muhirwa, Fabien & Shen, Lei & Elshkaki, Ayman & Hirwa, Hubert & Umuziranenge, Gloriose & Velempini, Kgosietsile, 2023. "Linking large extractive industries to sustainable development of rural communities at mining sites in Africa: Challenges and pathways," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    9. 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.
    10. Miller, Rebecca, 2015. "Natural resource extraction and political trust," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 165-172.
    11. Sesele, Kentse & Marais, Lochner & van Rooyen, Deidre, 2021. "Women and mine closure: A case study of policy in South Africa," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).

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