Mechanisation in the mining sector will have a devastating impact on the lives of miners and their dependants as it will result in job losses and should thus not be unilaterally embarked upon without consultation to avoid instability, North West Premier Thandi Modise appealed on Monday.
“Mining is important for employment of many of our people in the province and accounts for 15.5 percent of our contribution towards South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product,” Modise highlighted in her keynote address delivered at the Policy and Research Roundtable on Mining, Poverty and Unemployment hosted by the Provincial Planning Commission in the Office of the Premier in Rustenburg.
Premier Modise proposed that mechanisation should be phased in gradually in the labour intensive mining sector.
In challenging delegates to map out the ways by which to address unemployment and develop suitable models for partnerships and investments in the mining industry, Modise decried the fact that the province experienced an increase in unemployment rate during 2013 despite having an abundance of minerals.
She said that mining activities must essentially benefit host communities and deplored the instability that is often experienced by the host communities and mining companies.
“It is often alleged that multinational companies are paying better salaries in other countries. The huge gap in salaries is one of the factors that contribute to this instability. In this contemporary world, labour movements are able to benchmark salaries scales of the same job offered in other parts of the world by the same companies,” said Premier Modise.
Modise’s concerns were echoed by Professor Victor Ojakoruti of the North West University in his paper on the Impact of mining on host communities.
Ojakoruti said mining companies must do more to support social and economic development of communities living near the mining operations.
According to the North West Planning Commission, the province is the biggest producer of various minerals in the country. It produces 64 percent of the country’s platinum, 46 percent of its dimension stone and granite, 32 percent of its chromite and 25 percent of its gold.
"Special Infrastructure Project (SIP) 4 launched by President Jacob Zuma has identified that mining has the potential to positively impact on the establishment of infrastructure, services and commercial enterprises that can provide increased economic opportunities," underscored Premier Modise.
She added that key priority areas identified by the provincial government for implementation in the National Development Plan are economic development and employment, economic infrastructure, integrated and inclusive rural economy, human settlement and special transformation, improving health and building a capable developmental state.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele (Spokesperson)
Tel: 018 388 3705
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 388 3157
E-mail: LKgwele@gmail.com
