Findings, Recommendations and Conclusions 7.1 Background
7.6 The role of different role players in the resolution of AMD
In the following paragraphs, the roles of different role players and stakeholders will be explicated with a view to infusing a new way of thinking in environmental decision-making by ensuring that that everybody who is in the business of mining takes responsibility for their action without having to shift blame on others. In other words the thrust of the following discussion is grounded on a reversal of the conventional notion of the burden of proof, and how each sector can meaningfully contribute towards resolving or ameliorating the scourge of AMD.
7.6.1 The role of mining house in addressing AMD
The mining industry has a duty to adopt a new way of thinking in order to protect the quickly vanishing waters of SA. The new way of thinking should be an agenda of top management in order to internalise all their liabilities and the technical solution thereof as part of their moral responsibility. On the other hand, the mining industry should also be made to account legally by including appropriate sanctions in legislation to enforce the disclosure of risks associated with mining activities and their decommissioning.
This could be done by making the permit system or licensing regime more stringent, so that mining companies have to demonstrate that their actions will not imperil the health of humans or the ecosystem. Since science also creates uncertainty, the companies have a moral duty to avoid ambiguous responses, as these create more uncertainty and mistrust. This literally means that the incestuous relationship between the mining industry, the ‘scientific’ community and government
should be terminated without delay so that it is no longer easy for mining companies to exploit and abuse our ecosystems.
The business model for managing the environment should be reconsidered, as it currently is exploitative and benefits only the select few at the expense of the majority. Since the AMD conundrum is the creation of industry, it is morally right that the costs of the clean-up should be borne by the mining conglomerates, and that taxpayers should not be expected to contribute anything.
Finally, the mining companies need to learn that prevention is better than cure. Companies need to look elsewhere and avoid the catastrophic path of relying on natural resources such as gold. Gold and other minerals are only needed in small quantities to make jewellery, and therefore its mining is not sustainable. Its usage is very limited compared to the harm it unleashes on the fragile ecosystem. Here we actually have two choices to make: to mine or not to mine. Perhaps mining is not an option after all?
7.6.2 The role of government in addressing AMD
Since mining is likely going to continue, and chances is that is that it will (World Bank, 2004), thus governments must enforce robust management strategies on the environment which include the PP. Part of the management strategy will be the capture of iron pyrite before it becomes a danger. Government should encourage more research so as to avoid the temptation of focusing on one technology only. Other technology options must be investigated to address the question of AMD. The challenge of AMD must also be escalated to Cabinet level to seek parliamentary approval for addressing this scourge. Independent scientists also must be brought on board, together with the affected and interested communities, and the results of such research must be made public. Whatever is done, it must be done in the interests of the country, as a collective. The government must ensure that water quality standards are maintained and bench-marked according to international standards. The issuing of mining permits and licenses should also be transparent to obviate the resurrection of the ghost of AMD. Government should measure and monitor its environmental performance in terms of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The gaps that exist that will impact on sustainable development should be highlighted (Singh et al., 2008). The government should also embrace the guidelines of the Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economics (CERES) and show how it complies in terms of its reporting.
Lastly, mines that contribute to the problems of AMD must be named and shamed, with the possibility of being shut out of mining projects permanently if they do nothing about the problem that they themselves have caused.
7.6.3 The role of science in addressing AMD
In this dissertation, I have learned that there is nothing such as an independent scientist. This notion is informed by the argument that individuals have biases and personal motives. As I alluded earlier, certain scientists’ services are for sale, hence the personal motives to earn extra cash and political legitimacy by appeasing those who hold power. In the real-life situation, one cannot easily say that biases can be eliminated; rather, biases should be identified and managed.
These biases can be addressed by ensuring that scientific advisors act purely in their capacity as professional scientists, and that all extraneous influences which they are aware of having been excluded, or at least openly acknowledged and managed. When in doubt, the advisors should understand their primary duty: when giving advice to government on risk-related issues, their first duty is to the broader public, and such duty should take precedence over any personal or professional consideration. If such an approach is indeed embraced, the scientific advisors would resist any inappropriate external pressures. It is a question of public interest versus self-serving agendas. The most fundamental approach that will enhance public trust in scientists who are perceived to be biased towards the government’s project is to ensure that they do not hide behind uncertainty, or apply hidden ‘safety margins’, since this would be straying into policy-making and the unfair, biased judging of societal values. Furthermore, it will be poor judgement if, for instance, the advisors seek closure on issues where there are genuine differences of view. The advisors should therefore faithfully record and present to policy-makers the alternative views and the evidence to support them.
7.6.4 The role of the non-scientific community in addressing AMD
As it was earlier demonstrated in this thesis that the role of communities in environmental decision- making should not be disregarded by those in power; because if this exclusion occurs, it may easily culminate in violence, more environmental degradation, and communities may not respect imposed decision-making. It is thus my contention that during the decision-making process, the interested, affected and other stakeholders should be proactively involved in seeking decisions that demonstrate the democratic principle by application of the following precautionary principle:
ii. Defining policy questions and possible options with all role-players involved; iii. Framing scientific questions in conjunction with communities;
iv. Selecting advisors to represent the lay public and communities;
v. Assessing and monitoring findings in light of the lived experiences and local knowledge of communities and individuals at the receiving end of activities;
vi. Gaining prior informed consent from communities on decisions to commission or decommission mines.
Therefore, when and if the above proactive considerations are taken on board, they have the propensity to draw community members to become partners with government and scientists in finding a lasting solution to the problem of AMD. Currently there are indeed partnerships of this kind that are being forged in Carolina and some parts of Gauteng, particularly in the Western Basin between government and communities with a view of addressing the challenge of AMD.