Experts urge national post‑mining economy strategy to help former miners

Experts and activists are calling for a formal post‑mining economy strategy to help former mineworkers and their communities survive after mines close and workers are retrenched.

Why a post‑mining plan is needed

Speakers at an online dialogue about life in Marikana and other mining communities said mining companies have in many cases left behind poverty that drives former employees into illegal mining and other risky activities. The dialogue took place 14 years after the Marikana massacre, which “saw more than 30 protesting mineworkers slain by police.”

Mining activist Brown Matloko said the fallout from mine closures and retrenchments has contributed to illegal mining and tragic accidents. “Recently we saw on TV 14 illegal miners died and eight were injured when heavy rain triggered the open case mine shaft to cave in,” he said. He added, “We are not condoning illegal mining, but we are saying some of these people are forced to be involved in these things because they were retrenched when some mines closed down.”

Matloko warned that when mines leave they often leave land that is not rehabilitated and that cannot be used for other purposes. He said the departure of mining companies can also mean a lack of infrastructure development and environmental damage, and “water and air pollution that will cause illnesses for the residents.”

Analysts call for repurposing mines and supporting small‑scale activity

Mining analyst David van Wyk said the country must develop a post‑mining economic strategy focused on activities that will grow the economy. “We need to repurpose and re‑engineer the mines for post‑mining economic activities,” he said, adding that “minerals are not renewable; mining is therefore not sustainable. We should be looking at planning towards diversification and the evolution of a post‑mining economy.”

Van Wyk said large‑scale mining is in decline and argued for an “orderly and just transition into small‑ and medium‑scale mining, including artisanal mining.” He also suggested repurposing mining infrastructure to support new industries: “Old mine electricity substations can be used to feed solar energy from mine wasteland into the national grid and to extract methane from old mining shafts,” he said.

He proposed the state should create conditions for artisanal, small‑ and medium‑scale mining and “facilitate community‑based industries to add value to the diamonds, gold and platinum they extract, such as cottage jewellery manufacturing.” Van Wyk also noted that mines leave large infrastructure that “could be converted and used as important facilities within the affected mining communities, such as clinics, schools and other related useful resources.”

The core message

Both Matloko and Van Wyk urged planning for life after mining so that communities can continue earning income and avoid the social and economic harms tied to mine closures.