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 figures showing a dramatic decline in South Africa’s own mining investment since 2006 and a rejection by the ANC-led government of proposals to nationalise its mining industry. At the same time, civil society leaders from around the continent met in an “alternative” gathering to condemn the externalisation of mining’s costs onto affected communities. In a statement, issued on 7 February, a new Alliance challenged organisers of next year’s official Indaba to “allow communities affected by mining, for better or for worse, tell their stories, alongside the mining industry and government”. Among London-listed mining companies active in South Africa are Anglo American, AngloGold Ashanti, BHP Billiton and Xstrata. The article also mentions Glencore.
See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11494&l=1.