Government urged to 'deal with mining's apartheid legacy'

"All over the world, 'sustainability' issues are key to mining and to relationships between mining companies and their stakeholders," said CSMI director Mavis Hermanus, adding that focus should be given to communities and workforce in the mining industry. "In South Africa we have additionally the need to deal with mining's apartheid legacy."

Hermanus said CSMI and mining giant AngloGold Ashanti would co-organise the Mining for Change conference in South Africa early next month to examine issues relating to South Africa's mining sector. "While substantial long-term and committed investments are needed," she said, "host communities, societies and workforces expect socially and environmentally responsible operational methods as well as progress towards thriving post-mining economies."

According to Allafrica.com, the Mining for Change conference would seek to tackle major issues affecting the mining industry ahead of the South Africa ruling party African National Congress' conference in June, which would also touch upon the mining issues and policies. The mining industry in South Africa is being blamed for neglecting policies that promote community beneficiation.

Read the full article on http://allafrica.com.
For more information on the Mining for Change Conference, go to www.miningforchange.co.za.
Go to www.csmi.co.za for more info from The Centre for Sustainability in Mining and Industry.