Maxton, Phillip2026-04-212026-04-212026-05-052025*A2025http://hdl.handle.net/2263/109639Mini Dissertation (MPhil (Corporate Strategy))--University of Pretoria, 2025.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.en© 2025 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.UCTDJust Energy Transition(JET)Informal economiesGovernance and policySocial protection and resilienceEnergy justiceMini Dissertationu11071363