In addition, there is a marked increased in social problems such as crime, prostitution and gangsterism in these areas filtering down to the surrounding communities. John Capel, executive director of the Bench Marks Foundation, says that the plight of the populations surrounding mines should not be forgotten.
"The majority of the informal settlements have come about as a result of mines not providing housing for the migrants they hire and paying them an inadequate living-out allowance. Miners are then forced to find cheap accommodation in the surrounding villages or settle in shacks near to the mines," Capel says.
"There is an increased strain on the surrounding towns and its infrastructure as a result of the ever-increasing numbers in the informal settlements. This is a direct result of mining and mining corporations ignore this. The high level of unemployment as a result of closures of certain mines due to the steady decline in South African mining output has put even more pressure on the situation. Those who have lost their jobs are unable to return to their homes as a result of a lack of funds. For some, turning to a life of crime is one way to survive. For others, sex work is another option.
"Another red flag that shouldn't be ignored, is the way the mines attract migrant labour without providing the necessary resources to deal with them. These labourers flock at the promise of jobs. This influx creates tension between indigenous communities and migrant labour," Capel says.
"We continue to see mines engaged in a process of a smoke and mirrors when it comes to migrant labour. Migrant labour is disguised through the living-out allowance. Through this, they shift the costs and responsibilities for housing, security, feeding and health onto the resources of the already overstretched local government authorities, the workers themselves not to mention members of surrounding communities. What is really needed is for mines to take responsibility for migrant labour by providing proper housing and services. This will, to some extent, avoid xenophobic attacks while simultaneously working out local employment targets," he concludes.
