The Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA)
is one of the key legislative frameworks in South Africa, aiming to develop
fair and sustainable standards within the mining sector. Effective
implementation of Section 52 of the MPRDA is necessary to encourage meaningful
stakeholder engagement in the mining sector. Barberton Mines, located in the
old Umjindi Local Municipality within the Mbombela City Local Municipality,
includes the Barberton Tailings Retreatment Plant (BTRP), which is located inside
the Fairview Mine's mining right footprint. Despite the regulatory framework in
place to ensure that mining operations consider the interests of local
communities, there are still concerns about how effectively Barberton Mines has
consulted its stakeholders when making operational decisions. With an eye
towards stakeholder participation, this chapter investigates how Barberton
Mines implements Section 52 of the MPRDA, therefore clarifying the efficacy of
present engagement policies and pointing out areas for improvement. This study
used a qualitative research approach, which involved thorough reviews of
existing documents and literature, DMRE guidelines, and Barberton Mines
reports, to find important information about how the community views the company
and how well its communication strategies work. Findings indicate that Section
52 plays a critical role in promoting a culture of engagement and collaboration
among stakeholders. The results also highlight how open communication and
openness are absolutely necessary to build confidence and cooperative
partnerships with other towns. The Barberton Mine, although there is always
room for improvement, exemplifies effective engagement strategies that benefit
both the company and the local community. Barberton Mines' comprehensive
approach to managing the COVID-19 pandemic highlights its dedication to the
health and safety of its employees and the broader community. Notwithstanding
current legal systems, Barberton Mines finds it difficult to properly involve
stakeholders; problems, including poor communication channels, insufficient
community consultations, and little participation of local stakeholders, have
been seen. The study reveals the main drivers and challenges to effective
stakeholder involvement, which results in customised recommendations meant to
close compliance gaps with MPRDA criteria. Establishing an effective
Stakeholder Development Forum (SDF) is vital for fostering collaborative
partnerships and facilitating meaningful interaction among diverse stakeholders,
particularly in resource extraction contexts. The study also emphasises the
value of corporate social investment (CSI) projects, illustrating Barberton
Mines' dedication to solving community welfare issues by means of
infrastructure development, health care enhancements, and educational support.
The study concludes that Barberton Mines' sustained operational performance
relies on establishing a robust stakeholder engagement framework that
incorporates diverse community perspectives and facilitates open communication
channels. The study recommends the transparent inclusion of representatives
from a range of stakeholders, including local businesses, non-governmental
organisations, and community leaders, as well as representatives from
traditional local authorities.
Author(s) Details
Bongani June Mwale
Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, Corner of Miriam Makeba and Helen Joseph,
Johannesburg, South Africa.
Blondel Nyamkure
Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, Corner of Miriam Makeba and Helen Joseph,
Johannesburg, South Africa.
Percival Motha
Baobab Building No. 1. Government Boulevard, Legislature & Government
Complex, Riverside Park Ext. 2. Mbombela, South Africa.
Vincent Zulu
Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, Corner of Miriam Makeba and Helen Joseph,
Johannesburg, South Africa.
Nkateko Maluleke
Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, Corner of Miriam Makeba and Helen Joseph,
Johannesburg, South Africa.
Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/nabme/v12/6810
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