South Africa Field Research: Engagement in Mine Closure Context

A May 2025 study of South Africa’s Barberton gold district found that while stakeholder forums exist, mine closure decisions remain top-down and regulator-driven. Community concerns—like economic transition and land repurposing—are often sidelined. Researchers highlight that corporate social investments (CSIs) do little to address this gap, as they rarely involve communities in meaningful ways. The study calls for early, inclusive planning with co-production models that bring together government, companies, and local actors. Such frameworks would strengthen social license, reduce closure-related conflict, and support long-term environmental and economic sustainability post-mining.