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.
