Battling the complexities of illegal mining: 'They're human beings entitled to dignity' – legal practitioner

Clarence Ford interviews Mandy Hattingh, Legal Practitioner in NSDV’s Mining and Environmental Law Department.

Listen below. 

For nearly 150 years, mining has served as the backbone of the South African economy, contributing approximately 7.5% to the GDP and accounting for around 60% of total exports.

However, this crucial sector is now facing a significant threat from illegal mining activities.

As of 2024, illegal mining is projected to cost South Africa over R70 billion annually in lost revenue, taxes, and royalties, particularly impacting the gold industry.

According to Hattingh, addressing this challenge requires more than just regulatory measures; a comprehensive approach is essential to protect the industry's future.

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She emphasises the need to streamline the licencing processes for small-scale artisanal miners, reduce the prohibitive costs associated with these licences, and create a specialised framework that allows illegal miners to transition into legal operations.

Hattingh also advocates for a strategy that combines regulatory reforms with economic incentives and community support programmes, which would not only benefit South Africa as a whole but also uplift the miners themselves.

"It's important to recognise that illegal miners are humans who are entitled to dignity and we need to have a comprehensive approach that considers that illegal mining isn't just a law enforcement issue; it's a social and economic challenge."

- Mandy Hattingh, Legal Practitioner – NSDV’s Mining and Environmental Law

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