Small and mid-scale mining in South Africa: Beyond the rhetoric

Abstract

In this article it is argued that there is a great deal of scope for developing the small and mid-scale mining sectors in South Africa. Relative to other countries, these sectors are underdeveloped but, in any initiative to develop these sectors, caution, maturity and common sense is desirable. Small-scale mining can make a significant contribution to local economic development. At a national level its contribution is likely to be negligible. Mid-scale mining has considerably more potential for material economic impact. The article is a revised version of a paper presented at the Windhoek seminar.