Business Report writes that according to human rights lawyers, there are little avenues available for mining communities to hold mining companies to account.  

This was one of the submissions heard by the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) on Tuesday at its hearing on the underlying socioeconomic challenges of mining-affected communities.  The hearing came about due to discontent expressed by mining communities during consultation roadshows held across the country.  Representatives from the Legal Resources Centre (LRC) said many of the issues of such communities centred on complaints against traditional leaders, whom companies often used as avenues to negotiate with communities on development.  The Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) reported that its research into mining companies’ social and labour plans found that most were not implemented.  The Department of Mineral Resources is scheduled to speak at the hearing, which ends on Wednesday.

• Read this report by Zintle Mahlati in full at Business Report

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