Management of informal economies by South African coal mining companies in the context of their just energy transition

Abstract

This study critically examines how coal mining companies in South Africa manage informal economies within the framework of the Just Energy Transition (JET). Using a qualitative research design, twelve semi-structured interviews were analyzed through thematic analysis to explore governance, corporate strategies, stakeholder engagement, and socio-economic resilience in coal-dependent communities. Eight interrelated themes emerged: informal economies, management strategies, just energy transition planning, stakeholder engagement, future outlook, governance and policy, social protection and resilience, and theoretical constructs. Findings reveal that informal economies are structurally embedded and economically vital yet remain marginalized in formal planning processes. Corporate interventions demonstrate developmental intent but lack flexibility and sustainability, while governance frameworks exhibit technocratic tendencies and multi-scalar fragmentation, undermining distributive and procedural justice. Informal actors face systemic exclusion from social protection schemes, despite demonstrating adaptive resilience through community-based coping mechanisms. Conceptually, the study reinforces energy justice principles and stakeholder theory while introducing hybrid governance and anticipatory planning as theoretical extensions to JET discourse. Policy implications underscore the need for participatory governance, integrated social protection, and context-sensitive strategies that operationalize justice beyond rhetoric. By foregrounding the intersection of informality, governance, and transition planning, this research contributes to global debates on inclusive and equitable energy transitions in resource-dependent economies.