“Significant levels of poverty, inequality and poor service delivery persist in mining-affected communities,” said Alucia Sekgathume, spokesperson, SAHRC.

The growing discontent among miners, trade unions, and mining communities has sparked waves of strikes and protests in the sector over the past few years, resulting in a decline of the country’s GDP and shaken investor confidence, she said.

The strikes have had “devastating” effects on communities. When the miners are not paid, local businesses struggle to survive, and workers are often forced to take out loans which they struggled to repay.

On Monday and Wednesday there will be submissions from the Department of Rural Development, the Chamber of Mines, the Emakhazeni, Victor Khayne and Emalahleni local municipalities; all in Mpumalanga, as well as the Mtubatuba local municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, and from companies Mbuyelo Group, Wescoal Mining, and Petmin.

The hearings are intended to identify policies, regulations, and other interventions to help those affected.

Earlier this month, City Press reported that at the previous round of hearings, the SAHRC heard allegations of mining companies not sustaining the rights of communities and of a lack of effective government intervention.

Mining Affected Communities United in Action (Macua), which represents 100 communities through 70 organisations, made a submission in which they alleged that water near mining activities had become polluted and unsafe for human consumption, and that companies were not being held to account.

The panel will compile a report after all hearings have concluded.

-AllAfrica