Lazarus Mokgosi, Premier of the North West and Bitsa Lenkopane and Member of the Executive Committee (MEC) of Economic Development, Conservation, Environment and Tourism, are leading a delegation from the province, to engage with industry at the Mining Indaba.
They plan to advance mineral beneficiaries, commercialize the Bojanala Special Economic Zone (SEZ), link the province to Southern African markets and secure social related aspects, such as social labour plans and the procurement for local small and medium businesses.
According to the World Resources Institute, mining is haunted by illegal mining , with hotspots in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa and Ghana, as well as those along the Amazon basin in South America (Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela).
According to a report by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) most illegal mining activities in South Africa, happen in Gauteng, the North West and the Free State.
At the Alternative Indaba, the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) said this is a critical platform where community voices, civil society and activists come together to shape a more just and inclusive mining future.
Tarisai Mugunyani, CER Head of Mining Programme, said “for too long, communities living with the impacts of mining have been excluded from decisions that affect their land, health, livelihoods and futures. The Alternative Mining Indaba creates space for these communities to speak, organise and demand accountability from both government and the mining industry.”
Mugunyani said CER continues to work alongside communities to ensure that environmental and human rights are protected, laws are enforced, and that mining in South Africa puts people and the planet first.
Mugunyani is one of the panellists speaking at the Alternative Mining Indaba (AMI) roundtable discussion on “State of play: Is South Africa’s legal rehabilitation regime fit for a just transition?”
Picture: Supplied