Developing mine closure risk ratings and a post-closure opportunity framework for South Africa
Mining is deeply embedded in the history of modern South Africa and has played a major role in the country’s geopolitical and socio-economic development. Although the contribution of mining to the country’s GDP has declined since its peak in the 1980s, it continues to be a critical contributor to the national economy (7.5% of GDP in 2022) and the world’s supply of extractive resources, most notably for platinum, chromium and manganese. Over 230 operating mines are located in a quarter of the country’s local municipalities and are supported or hosted by over 360 diverse urban and rural communities, home to over 6.2 million people. Many of these communities and local economies are highly dependent on mining and thus vulnerable to the risks relating to mine closure. In recent years, several collaborative, multi-stakeholder projects have been initiated to explore post-mining land-use and economic succession planning in South Africa. Mine closure risks and opportunities are site specific, affecting different communities to varying degrees, at different times and in distinctive ways, depending on factors such as water resources, land capability, socio-economic profiles, economic diversity, public infrastructure and access to markets. Given these complexities, the national government, local government and other stakeholders need guidance in identifying high risk areas and suitable post-closure interventions to mitigate these risks on a case-by-case basis.