Examining socio-ecological changes associated with coal mining on adjacent communities in KwaSomkhele, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Date
2022
Authors
Gwala, Oscar Zwelithini.
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Abstract
Debates about the distribution of mining industry benefits, relative to the costs they impose on
proximate communities occur not only in South Africa but worldwide. Is coal mining an
essential tool for economic growth, or is it as some put it a curse for the future generation? Are
community members benefiting adequately from the mining industry? Or do the state and
foreign companies that invest in African mining projects benefit disproportionately from the
externalities they impose? It is projected that South Africa has the sixth-largest coal reserves
in the world, with close to 30 408 million tons of reserves. This thesis investigates the political
ecology of the mine, and issues, costs and socio-ecological changes imposed by the Somkhele
anthracite mine, owned by Tendele as a subsidiary to Petmin, in, KwaMpukunyoni, KwaZulu-
Natal. A ‘job creation discourse’ is presented by the mine concerning its role as a development
actor and the jobs it creates for locals. However, local and international civil society have raised
concerns about the impact of the mine and the distribution of its benefits, particularly the
expansion of the mine over an area of 222km2 adjacent to a critical conservation area; the
Hluhluwe-uMfolozi national park. This thesis details anticipated, and actual social, economic,
and environmental changes imposed by the mine for proximate residents, based on key
informant interviews and household surveys in five different communities around the mine.
Individual households are selected as the primary sample unit between five different
communities Emachibini, KwaSomkhele, eDubelenkunzi, KwaMyeki and Ophondweni. The
researcher purposively samples 20-25 households per village for the questionnaire surveys,
therefore, having a sample size of approximately 80-100. Findings indicate a discrepancy
between a Job discourse on how the Mpukunyoni community benefits, and how proximate
villages experience the reality on the ground and highlight a range of risks and externalities
related to pollution and environmental degradation borne by the communities. The thesis then
goes on to describe the subjectivity of the mining-affected communities as environmental
subjects in Mpukunyoni. It argues that understanding the experience and subjectivity of
mining-affected communities is important in the broader mining geography of Kwazulu-Natal
and South Africa
Description
Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.