Re-forging industry : post-mining landscapes

Abstract

English: The aim of this research is to explore the possibilities of the reuse and re-adaption of historical mining sites and towns in a postmining scenario. The threat of mine closure looms over South Africa and because the mining industry forms such a major part of the country’s economy as well as labour market, this is not a threat that can be ignored any further. Mine closures occur for various reasons, namely; the fall of global commodity prices, domestic cost pressures have risen too quickly (electricity prices and wages), uncertainty over the government’s mining policy and a fall in productivity of mines (viability) (Baxter , 2016). Because mining towns and the mines they support have, up until this stage, have been very lucrative.There has been no need for residents to diversify, or develop alternative streams of income. The mining companies see no reason to invest in infrastructure that doesn’t directly benefit the mine or meet minimum legislative requirements. Mine closures do not have to spell the end for mining towns and their communities. If mining infrastructure and related industrial buildings can be used to house alternative forms of industry, then these communities have a chance of surviving.

Afrikaans: Die doel van hierdie navorsing is om die moontlikhede van hergebruik en heraanpassing van historiese myngebiede en dorpe in ‘n postmining-scenario te ondersoek. Die dreigement van mynbou van myn sluiting hang oor Suid-Afrika en omdat die mynbedryf so ‘n groot deel van die land se ekonomie sowel as arbeidsmark vorm, is dit nie ‘n bedreiging wat verder geïgnoreer kan word nie. Myn sluiting vind om verskeie redes plaas, naamlik; die val van wêreldwye kommoditeitspryse het binnelandse kostedruk te vinnig gestyg (elektrisiteitspryse en lone), onsekerheid oor die mynboubeleid van die regering en ‘n daling in produktiwiteit van myne (lewensvatbaarheid) (Baxter, 2016). Aangesien myndorpe en die myne wat hulle ondersteun het tot op hierdie stadium baie winsgewend was, was daar geen behoefte aan inwoners om alternatiewe inkomstestrome te diversifiseer of te ontwikkel nie. Die mynmaatskappye sien geen rede om te belê in infrastruktuur waarin die myn direk baat vind of aan die minimum wetgewende vereistes voldoen nie. Myne sluit nie die einde vir myndorpe en hul gemeenskappe nie. As mynbou-infrastruktuur en verwante industriële geboue gebruik kan word om alternatiewe industrieë te huisves, dan het hierdie gemeenskappe ‘n kans om te oorleef.