Question NW802 to the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
09 April 2024 - NW802
Lorimer, Mr JR to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
(1) (a) What total number of mining rights holders are not implementing the Social Labour Plans (SLPs) and (b) on what dates were the SLPs last reviewed. (2) whether his department record community objections to the way in which the SLPs are being implemented; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what total number of objections were recorded in each region (a) in the past three financial years and (b) since 1 April 2023?
Reply:
(1)(a) 326 Mines have not fully implemented their Social and Labour Plans due to variety of reasons. These include mines that are not yet operational as well as those under Care and Maintenance.
(b) The Social and Labour Plan (SLP) incorporates various elements of the Mining Charter such as Human Resources Development, Employment Equity, Procurement, Local Economic Development, Management of Downscaling and retrenchments as well as Living and Housing conditions. Community development is only one aspect of the SLP.
Mining companies may therefore implement most aspects of the SLP and be non-compliant on other aspects. Where a holder of a Mining Right is non-compliant, administrative notices/directives are issued in terms of sections 29 or 93, whereby the holder is requested to take rectifying steps.
Commitments in Social and Labour Plans are implemented in five (5) year cycles, and new SLP’s are submitted every 5 years for the duration of the Mining Right. The date of review of each SLP is dependent on the end of that mine’s five-year cycle. There is therefore no single date for reviewing all SLPs.
(2)(a) 201 objections were recorded in the past three years.
(b) 66 objections were recorded since 01 April 2023.