Bench Marks Foundation echoes calls for SA mining reform
This Bench Marks Foundation "change now" call on the mining industry is no more than a reverberation of the original post-Marikana blast of government and community demand for reform in the sector. It nevertheless sharpens the focus on the huge challenge mining companies continue to face in balancing the conflicting interests and aspirations of their full spectrum of stakeholders – GK
The gap between the poor and the rich has widened and only a few have benefited from the economy," says Seoka.
"This imbalance has resulted in protest after protest on lack of service delivery and protracted strikes by organised labour such as we have seen in the platinum belt.
Bishop Seoka said that there needs to be a new mining path that situates communities and workers high up in sharing the value chain of mining corporations.
He said that it is critical that communities and workers have real participation over the planning of mines, as well as oversight during operation and closure.
"Presently communities and workers bear the brunt of the negative impacts of mining. They sacrifice their health, safety, welfare and thus their lives and their livelihoods.
"This practice must stop. We see too many winners and losers in the mining sector and this winner takes all model is leading to social upheaval, impoverishment and a state of disorder, as well as a potential backlash from both workers and surrounding communities".
Bishop Seoka said that the Marikana upheaval and the subsequent massacre raised more questions than answers. Questions such as
* What have we learnt from the five month strike in the Platinum belt?
* What kind of response is emanating from business, government and
communities?
* Is all investment good?
"It would seem very little as the attitude has been to blame outside forces and to be defensive rather than engage with the serious issues confronting mining, communities and workers," says Seoka.
"Marikana should have been the catalyst for change, but somehow one gets an impression that it is business as usual. Bench Marks Foundation believes that the time to reinvent and share the cake in mining equitably and to ensure companies operate ethically is now.
"One only has to look at the boards of some of the mining companies and who comprises them to understand this problem and that of the revolving door between powerful politicians and business," Seoka concludes.
Bench Marks Foundation is an independent non-governmental organisation mandated by churches to monitor the practices of multi-national corporations.