Violent confrontations between two South African unions have so far cost three mineworker’s lives, and the situation shows little sign of being peacefully resolved. At the heart of the conflict are not just labour issues, …
Read more
South Africa’s implacable labouring foes
South Africa: Three die in Impala mine violence
Production at Impala, the world’s second largest platinum mining company has been brought to a standstill. The officially “recognised” National Union of Mineworkers has been waging battle with a rival union that claims to support …
Read more
Toxic Waters Threaten Johannesburg
The discovery of gold was the reason for the birth and the rise of Johannesburg, long called the “City of Gold.” But a century later, those same mines, where toxic water has built up in …
Read more
Anglo American dashes hopes for ‘special dividend’
The company dashed hopes it will use cash “trapped” in South Africa by exchange controls to fund a special dividend, opting rather to sweeten its regular payout after posting a 14% rise in FY profit.…
Read more
Connecting the world with African mining – but not affected communities.
It’s where “the World connects with African Mining”. At least – that was the claim for Africa’s official Mining Indaba, which ended in South Africa last week. The event was organised in the shadow of …
Read more
Glencore CEO is South Africa’s richest
The Rich List has been published, showcasing South Africa’s wealthiest business men and women. Topping the list for 2011 Ivan Glasenberg from Swiss-based, London-listed Glencore International, who has an estimated net worth of R61.48 billion.…
Read more
Rio Tinto Agrees to Buy BHP’s Stake in Richards Bay Minerals
Rio Tinto Group, the third-biggest mining company, will gain control of Richards Bay Minerals, or RBM, on South Africa’s east coast in a deal that sees BHP Billiton Ltd. exiting the titanium minerals industry. Rio, …
Read more
Sick miners want Anglo American to pay up
Mongezi Mponco left his village of grassland hills as one of hundreds of thousands of healthy young black men who poured into the deep underground of South Africa’s gold mines.
The 54-year-old continued working when …
Read more
Who needs coal? Who needs nuclear?
It seems to be a “Hobson’s choice” par excellence! As global climate change talks continued in Durban, South Africa’s leadership was faced with a “conundrum” – does the country continue burning-up the world by depending …
Read more
Silent Protest Held in Support of Communities of Limpopo
Gaia Foundation press release, Thursday 15th December 2011
Yesterday in Central London a silent protest took place outside the General Meeting of Shareholders of Australian mining company, Coal of Africa Ltd (CoAL). The protest was …
Read more
Civil society groups demand global corporations reconsider investment in Coal of Africa mining project.
Yesterday, civil society groups and community members from the Limpopo Province of South Africa sent a letter to over fifty shareholders and potential investors of Coal of Africa (CoAL) demanding that they reconsider their plans …
Read more
CoAL faces community wrath over water
Just as concerned citizens of South Africa mobilise around the international Climate Conference in Durban (COP-17), several communities, supported by NGOs, are battling to save a critical part of Limpopo province from the threat of …
Read more