The environmental, health and social impacts of mining are keenly felt by those communities who live and work in close proximity to the mines. As is often the case, it is marginalised and vulnerable communities that have the least power and ability to impact the decision making around mines.
Affected communities are particularly vulnerable to flawed consultation processes, a lack of access to information and inadequate provisions made for the rehabilitation of mines. There is further very little attempt made to hold those mining companies who violate the human and environmental rights of affected communities accountable, and regulators like the Department of Mineral Resources have been slow to respond to community concerns and requests for access to information.
Below, you can watch four short films commissioned by the CER, Lawyers for Human Rights, funded by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund and produced by Green Renaissance. These films tell the stories of four communities in Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and Limpopo, and one emerging farmer in Mpumalanga, whose lives have been and continue to be affected by the environmental impacts of unlawful and poorly regulated mining.
I hate this in my life from Green Renaissance on Vimeo.
I hate this in my life: Unrehabilitated coal mine on land of an emerging farmer near Belfast, Mpumalanga and impacts of mining at Wessleton outside Ermelo, Mpumalanga (Wessleton community)
Bad luck will come to us from Green Renaissance on Vimeo.
Bad luck will come to us: Risks of erosion caused by unrehabilitated clay mining near Tzaneen, Limpopo (Batlhabine community)
A Deep Wound from Green Renaissance on Vimeo.
A deep wound: Impacts of illegal anthracite mining at Madadeni, near Malelane, Mpumalanga (Madadeni community)
Suffering is forever from Green Renaissance on Vimeo.
Suffering is forever: Ensuring proper rehabilitation pursuant to sale of Namaqualand Mine, Northern Cape (Hondeklipbay community)
Communities who would like to obtain a DVD with copies of these films can contact the CER on mining@cer.org.za. Communities who wish to participate in the community partnership that forms part of the Mining-Environment-Communities Alliance can also contact the CER on mining@cer.org.za or call 021 447 1647.