The aim of this study was to assess trauma events experienced and PTSD among 250 consecutive rural primary clinic patients (all Black Africans, 24% male and 76% female; M age 31.1 yr., SD = 11.8; range 18-65 years) in South Africa using the Trauma History Questionnaire and the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version, interview administered. Results indicated that the mean number of traumatic events reported was 3.5 (SD = 2.9, range = 0-19) and was significantly higher among men (M= 4.9, SD = 3.5) than women (M = 3.0, SD = 2.6). Among the most frequently endorsed traumas among men were seeing someone seriously injured or killed (60%), serious accident (43.3%), and seeing dead bodies (43.3%), and among women natural disaster (mostly floods) (51.6%), news of a serious injury, life-threatening illness or unexpected death of someone close (31.1%), and seeing someone seriously injured or killed (30%). A current diagnosis of PTSD was found in 12.4% of the sample. Trauma incidence figures were high (M = 3.5) and were comparable with an urban Xhosa primary care population in South Africa (M = 3.8). A current indicative diagnosis of PTSD of 12.4% also compares with other studies; 19.9% among urban Xhosa primary care patients and 11.8% among American primary care patients.

The transformation of the mining industry has been a recurrent issue since the drafting of the Freedom Charter of 1955 and the dawn of democracy. Transformation had to be promoted through the development of the law, including the transitioning of the old mining rights into the new mining rights by the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 2002 (MPRDA). This paper focusses on the transition from the previous South African mining law in its historical context to the MPRDA, and the developments which brought it about, including various developments in law which assist in understanding the scope and limitations of the transition. The analysis clarifies the present position in our law associated with mining rights as well as how to deal with disputes arising out of it. The South African courts are critical in the interpretation of the transitional law and how it should apply. The judicial perspective on the development of the transitional law is empirically analysed.

Abstract

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