SECTOR CHARTER
State's consultation with mining communities pays big dividends
Bridges are being built to mend the trust deficit and ensure that extraction benefits everyone via transformation and growth, writes Sello Helepi
The mineral resources ministry is consulting mining communities, listening to their views on how the mining industry affects them. Thus far the department has interacted with stakeholders in four provinces, with the remaining five to be completed in the coming few weeks. Initially, some commentators expressed reservations about the process being too complex, even doubting it would happen at all. However, anchoring the ministry’s approach is the political will to engage the communities and the need to bring about regulatory certainty to the sector. Communities affected by mining embraced this opportunity for active engagement and participation and are making well thought-out, structured and valuable inputs to the Mining Charter. Mining communities engaged to date, in at least four provinces, have expressed overwhelming appreciation for the minister’s responsiveness in including them in what they want to see in the Mining Charter, and frankly express what they would not like to see in...
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