CHARTER STAKEHOLDERS
How high court ruling finally gives mining communities a voice
An order handed down by the high court has vindicated the fight by mining-affected communities for recognition as true stakeholders in the negotiation of mining regulation that has an effect on their daily lives. The High Court in Pretoria handed down an order postponing the judicial review of the most recent version of the Mining Charter, published by Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane in June, while recognising mining-affected communities as interested parties for purposes of consultation in the development of a new charter. The Sefikile, Lesetlheng, Babina Phuthi Ba Ga-Makola and Kgatlu communities, which host mining operations on their land, along with three mining community federations originally challenged the 2017 charter on a range of procedural as well as substantive issues. The Chamber of Mines opposed the minister in the same matter. By its nature, mining is an invasive activity. The lives of the community applicants demonstrate what it means when it occurs just o...
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