Overview of AMD in South Africa

Abstract

In South Africa, acid mine drainage (AMD) has become a highly contested issue as a technical or scientific matter, as well as its policy implications for the mining sector, water security and socio-economic sustainability. What is more contested is that differences in the definition exists between two groups of role-players, namely the South African government and consultants/activists/NGOs. These differences are discussed along with situation of AMD in the each of the three basins of the Witwatersrand goldfields, in the Vaal River System. A key finding was that the way AMD is understood determines what solutions are proposed by the role-players. The policy response to AMD is explained in this book and whether there are appropriate measures in place given the socio-economic impacts of AMD and the imperatives of sustainable development.