Solid Gold Podcasts #BeHeard Just Us and the Climate - Climate Justice Coalition

#034 Beneath the Surface: Legalising Artisanal Mining in Stilfontein

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This episode of Just Us and the Climate investigates the ongoing struggle to legalise artisanal mining in South Africa, focusing on the mining town of Stilfontein as a case study. The conversation is about how informal miners who, often vilified as illegal or criminal, are in fact survivors of economic exclusion, carrying historical knowledge and skills in a collapsing mining economy. The podcast sheds light on why formalising artisanal mining is a justice issue, both socio-economically and environmentally.

It unpacks the legal vacuum and policing of informal miners, the economic and environmental impacts of unregulated mining, opportunities for regulation that prioritise people and the planet, and community-based solutions for sustainable small-scale mining.
Chapters
  • 00:01 Introduction to Artisanal Mining and its Legal Status
  • 04:47 The Narrative of Illegality and the Situation in Stilfontein
  • 08:23 Impact of Criminalisation on Miners and their Families
  • 13:26 The Role of Gender in Artisanal Mining Spaces
  • 17:55 Successful Models for Legalising and Regulating Artisanal Mining
  • 24:36 Environmental Sustainability and Economic Survival in Mining Towns
  • 31:55 The Role of the State and Multinational Companies in Mining
  • 34:08 Reforms and Actions for Listeners to Advocate for
15 Jul English South Africa Society & Culture · Non-Profit

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