Mining and ‘Traditional Communities’ in South Africa's ‘Platinum Belt’: Contestations over Land, Leadership and Assets in North-West Province c.1996–2012

Abstract

In June 2012 at its policy conference, the African National Congress (ANC) rejected nationalisation of the country's ailing mining industry. The ANC proposed an alternative plan comprised of the imposition of higher taxes and penalties on mining houses, local beneficiation of minerals and a greater role for the state in new mining ventures. More recently the idea of a ‘super tax’ on profits has been mooted by the Minister for Energy and Minerals, Susan Shabangu. Although the details of these proposals are yet to be finalised and the nationalisation debate is still not off the table, this brought some clarity after months of uncertainty and placated the fears of shareholders, potential investors and the mining houses themselves. Implicit in many debates and statements about the industry's future, however, is the idea that local or near-mine communities should benefit (through royalties, joint ventures, share transactions or employment) from mining on land they own or occupy. The...