Mining houses accused of \'plundering\' the environment

A new study by the Bench Marks Foundation on the corporate social responsibility programmes of mining houses in the area questions whether the mines are doing enough for the environment and its surrounding communities. The report found the environment was suffering under the mines, and that the safety standards were not up to scratch. While the study notes that all mines have social responsibility programmes, it says these do not address the impact of mining on communities. From an environmental perspective, the report criticises the air quality monitoring capacity at local and district levels and blames land degradation, erosion and the destruction of vegetation for using up valuable water resources. A second report in the Mail & Guardian Online notes that the platinum boom has given rise to mushrooming informal settlements by migrant labourers around mines, posing serious health, social and environmental risks to communities. Contract workers have no access to sewage disposal facilities, refuse removal, electricity or piped water. The report faults companies for not paying close enough attention to the effects of waste dams and air pollution on surrounding communities. First Mail & Guardian Online report Second Mail & Guardian Online report Download a copy of the study