Solutions still lacking to address poor infrastructure in mining communities
A CO-ORDINATED government effort to revitalise the infrastructure and economies of mining towns is still struggling to find a comprehensive solution to the competing obligations of mining companies and the state.The commodities supercycle — which has come to an end in recent years — meant the infrastructure needs of mining towns grew beyond what the government had planned for them, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) heard on Wednesday.READ THIS: Mines fight over proposed community revenue shareThe Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation facilitator Rudi Dicks told the commission that the housing needs of mining communities had indirectly become the prerogative of the state.Mining companies, recognising their obligations, had in many cases struck agreements with labour for living out allowances, in some cases "disastrously"."There are challenges … a lot of this relates to legislation and policy challenges, including conflicting mandates and having a develope...
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