Local communities and health disaster management in the mining sector

Abstract

Mining activities throughout the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have impacted on the health and safety of mining communities for many decades. Despite the economic contribution of mining to surrounding communities, a huge amount of social and environmental harm is associated with the industry. In this regard, mining companies have, on the one hand, contributed toward improved social development by providing jobs, paying taxes and earning foreign exchange. On the other hand, they have been linked publicly to poor labour conditions, corruption, pollution incidents, health and safety failings, as well as disrespect of human rights. The objectives of this study are to give an overview of social and natural factors relating to health disasters in selected communities in the mining environment. Regarding the findings, this paper focuses on the social and natural factors involved in the creation of health disasters. The social factors include poverty, unemployment, poor housing and infrastructure, prostitution and a high influx of unaccompanied migrant labour. Major health issues in this regard, which will be highlighted, are the extraordinary high incidence rate of HIV and STIs (sexually transmitted infections), addiction and mental illness. The environmental (natural) threats to health that will be discussed in the study are harmful particles in the air and water, excessive noise and overcrowded and unhygienic living conditions. In conclusion, the paper also finds that communities need to be ‘fenced in’ in terms of health disaster management instead of being excluded. Specific recommendations to mining companies to reduce health and safety disasters will be made to conclude the paper.

The Nature and Articulation of Ethical Codes on Tailings Management in South Africa

“…From when gold mining started more than a century ago, until 2006, South Africa has been the largest producer of gold in the world [3,4]. Cronje et al (2013) [5] acknowledge mining companies' contribution towards improved social development, in providing jobs, paying taxes, building an industrial base, enhancing efficiency, earning foreign exchange and transferring technology. On the other hand, some of these companies have been linked to a number of blatant public maleficent practices, including interference in sovereign affairs, deepening disparities in wealth, poor labour conditions, corruption, transfer pricing, and disrespect of human rights [5][6][7].…”

The Nature and Articulation of Ethical Codes on Tailings Management in South Africa

“…Cronje et al (2013) have listed the social factors that precipitate health disasters in communities associated with management of South Africa's tailings dams. These include poverty, unemployment, poor housing and infrastructure, prostitution and a high influx of unaccompanied migrant labour.…”

“…Cattle and grazing land is affected, depriving communities of an income. A review of these factors by Cronje et al (2013) led to the conclusion that " … communities need to be 'fenced in' in terms of health disaster management instead of being excluded".…”

“…Cronje et al (2013) acknowledge mining companies' contribution towards improved social development, in providing jobs, paying taxes, building an industrial base, enhancing efficiency, earning foreign exchange and transferring technology. On the other hand, some of these companies have been linked to a number of blatant public maleficient practices, including interference in sovereign affairs, deepening disparities in wealth, poor labour conditions, corruption, transfer pricing, and disrespect of human rights (Eweje, 2005;Cronje et al;Diale, 2014;Saperstein, 2014).…”

“…Cronje et al (2013) acknowledge mining companies' contribution towards improved social development, in providing jobs, paying taxes, building an industrial base, enhancing efficiency, earning foreign exchange and transferring technology. On the other hand, some of these companies have been linked to a number of blatant public maleficient practices, including interference in sovereign affairs, deepening disparities in wealth, poor labour conditions, corruption, transfer pricing, and disrespect of human rights (Eweje, 2005;Cronje et al;Diale, 2014;Saperstein, 2014). But some (e.g., Manungufala et al, 2005;Schonfeld, 2014;Wright et al, 2014;Lèbre and Corder, 2015) consider the most worrying aspect of present day mining in South Africa to be the ethics of *tailings handling and other mine waste disposal practices; and the impact these have on the health of surrounding communities and the environment as a whole, by way of pollution incidents, safety failings and reduction in the amount of space available for lowcost housing projects.…”