One of the Mining Charter’s points obliges mining companies to develop decent housing for their employees. Unfortunately, a recent audit revealed that mining companies are more concerned about increasing profit at any cost than improving living conditions of their employees who risk their lives to labour in an unforgiving environment underground.
Hence, in order to significantly address this challenge, President Jacob Zuma announced that government has decided to ring-fence R2.1bn over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for housing implementation in distressed mining towns, as part of the Mining Sector National Consultative Forum.
Prasing the move, the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources chair, Sahlulele Luzipo, said this gesture should open up dialogue and negotiations with social partners, including labour unions, as it is of paramount importance.
“The government has done its part, but this does not take away the responsibility of mining companies to invest in upgrading the living conditions of their communities,” commented Luzipo.