David McKay writes that one interesting development to come out of the latest illegal mining disaster in which miners (‘zama-zamas’) were killed at Langlaaate has been the suggestion by Cosatu that the government decriminalise the activity.  

The labour federation called on the Chamber of Mines (COM) and Government “to explore the possibility of legalising and regulating the small scale mining as a way of minimising dangers and also removing the criminal elements that send some of these desperate people underground.”  McKay says the notion is far from hare-brained and the COM has raised this notion too.  “It is unlikely that these miners can be absorbed into the work force, instead they could create small scale businesses which could create employment and benefit communities,” the COM said in a report in February.  There are international where private sector co-operation with the informal sector has worked.  McKay goes on to examine this further.

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