Sustainable development in mining companies in South Africa

Abstract

Since the discovery of diamonds in Kimberley in 1871 and the Witwatersrand goldfields in 1886, the mining industry has been a major contributor to the development of South Africa. The study examined Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) published by corporate mining companies (mining houses) in South Africa in their Annual Reports, to ascertain the extent to which the exploitation of the non-renewable resources under their control was done in a sustainable manner according to criteria set out in the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). It was clear in terms of a graphical representation that while mining houses still strongly highlighted economic performance, and the traditional health and safety (labour) issues, as well as environment and social issues, the newcomers human rights and responsibility for downstream products were ignored. This points to an inconsistent understanding of the idea of sustainability espoused by the GRI.