Sector overview
Mining has wide-ranging and severe impacts on the environment, including contamination of soil, groundwater and surface water by chemicals used in the mining process, loss of biodiversity, air pollution and the creation of large amounts of waste.1 In South Africa, unrehabilitated mines and acid mine drainage are particular problems. These environmental issues can have harmful effects on human health.2
The mining sector accounts directly for 8.3% GDP3 and “total industry employment” was put at 493,000 by the Minister for Mineral Resources in 2015.4
Primary Legislation
| National Environmental Management Act |
| National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act |
| National Environmental Management: Waste Act |
| National Water Act |
| Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act |
| National Heritage Resources Act |
| Environment Conservation Act |
Pursuant to these pieces of legislation, companies are required to have licences relating to the relevant activities under the Acts. Minimum emission standards were published in Government Notice No. 248 in 2010.5 Licences granted to companies under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act must at least incorporate these standards and deadlines were introduced for meeting those standards.
- http://www.foeeurope.org/sites/default/files/publications/FoEE_Blessing_or_curse_mining_impacts_1007.pdf (last accessed on 7 November 2016).
- Human Health and Environmental Damages from Mining and Mineral Processing Wastes, published by the Office of Solid Waste, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, December 1995, at page 1.
- http://www.tradingeconomics.com/south-africa/gdp-growth-annual (last accessed on 7 November 2016).
- http://www.gov.za/speeches/minister-ngoako-abel-ramatlhodi-occasion-budget-vote-29-7-may-2015-0000 (last accessed on 7 November 2016).
- https://www.environment.gov.za/sites/default/files/gazetted_notices/nemaqa_listofactivities_g33064gon248.pdf (last accessed on 7 November 2016).
Companies
- African Rainbow Minerals LimitedUpdated
- Anglo American Platinum LimitedUpdated
- Anglo American plcUpdated
- AngloGold Ashanti LimitedUpdated
- Coal of Africa LimitedNew
- DRDGOLD LimitedUpdated
- Exxaro Resources LimitedUpdated
- Glencore plcNew
- Gold Fields LimitedUpdated
- Harmony Gold Mining Company LimitedUpdated
- Impala Platinum Holdings LimitedUpdated
- Kumba Iron Ore LimitedNew
- Lonmin plcUpdated
- Merafe Resources LimitedUpdated
- Northam Platinum LimitedNew
- Royal Bafokeng Platinum LimitedNew
- Sentula Mining LimitedNew
- Sibanye Gold LimitedNew
- South32 LimitedNew
- Wescoal Holdings LimitedNew
Licences and authorisations
View a summary of licences and authorisations required in order to operate lawfully in the Mining sector.