The Commitment to Contribute to the Well-Being of Various Stakeholders: A Focus on South African Social and Labour Plans

There is nothing more appalling than mining companies benefiting from the resources of a country while the communities in which they operate gain nothing from such operations. Consequently, this leaves such communities indigent and destitute. In this way, Social Labour Plans (SLPs) play an essential role in the development of communities and employees in the mining sector. An SLP is a document that sets out a mining company’s commitments to its employees and the communities in which it operates. In such a document, the mining company has to also outline how such commitments will be achieved. However, the study identifies criticisms that follow due to the failure of mining companies to achieve the commitment made to the respective communities. The lack of concern by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) is an element of concern for the country. Thus, it defies the purpose and aim of the DMRE to develop a mineral resources and energy sector that ‘promotes economic growth and development, social equity and environmental sustainability’. This chapter recommends that the DMRE should take cognisance of the struggles that various communities in South Africa are experiencing. As presumed, nations with sizeable mineral resource endowments should be fortunate enough to advance in terms of development. In South Africa, this is yet to be seen.