CENTRE FOR SUSTAINABILITY
( From L to R ) Nancy Coulson , Programme Manager - Health & Safety Caroline Digby , Director . Noleen Dube , Programme Manager – Socioeconomic Development . Lileen Lee , Senior Course Administrator . Ingrid Watson , Programme Manager – Environment . Pontsho Ledwaba , lead on Artisanal and Small-scale Mining
“ Without this there is a danger that these workers could become the illegal miners of the future in an attempt to continue seeking out a living . Government and companies need to work together on this transition , preparing workers to move from mining into other areas of work ,” she adds .
Looking to the future Digby believes that mining in Africa still presents many greenfield mining opportunities .
“ With these opportunities comes the challenge of the influx of people desperate for work , the need for resettlement of communities and the on-going challenge of infrastructure development - bedevilled as it often is by high expectations and low capacity of both communities and authorities to negotiate lasting beneficial agreements ,” she says .
“ Too often this still leaves mining companies as the de-facto local authority with a long-term responsibility for a lot more than running a mine .”
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