All role players and stakeholders in the mining industry must make their environment a more sustainable place throughout South Africa, says Professor Dan Kgwadi, vice-chancellor of the North West University.
He was speaking during the launch of the Bench Marks Foundation’s latest report last week. The report by the Bench Marks Foundation and the Bench Marks Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at the North-West University, entitled ‘Floating or sinking’ Social Licence to Operation (SLO): Kumba Iron Ore Limited, highlights the gaps in the company’s corporate social responsibility programmes.
It also aims to change corporate behaviour towards responsible business conduct that benefits communities and embraces the overall wellbeing of those most negatively impacted. Prof. Kgwadi stressed the importance of stakeholder participation – including both government and the private sector – in order to combat the huge challenges that remain in South Africa, particularly in the mining areas.
He also said corporations must holistically and systematically look after all three main dimensions of development, namely economic issues, the natural environment and people. “Without this,” he said, “sustainability will remain a pipe dream.”
Kgwadi said he could not understand why rich mining giants still have neighbours that, in some areas, live in abject poverty and are not really benefitting from the mineral richness of the country and land they live on. He said the report released by the Bench Marks Centre situated at the Potchefstroom Campus and the Bench Marks Foundation, brings to the fore the concepts of corporate social responsibility (CSR) within South Africa as a developmental state and further pushes the need for urgent awareness and realisation by corporations that CSR is the right thing to do.
He added that the role of civil society in development by organisations such as the Bench Marks Foundation is essential and must continue to play a watchdog and whistle-blowing role. “The Bench Marks Centre was formed as a collaborative relationship between the North West University and the Bench Marks Foundation and has played a central role, either in research or the finalisation of research reports.”
This collaboration illustrated the importance of academics playing an activist role, in a responsible and scientific way, in research that will highlight what is happening in South Africa. “Among others, the Bench Marks Foundation calls for a new relationship between corporations, communities and ecosystems; equal participation of stakeholders and those most affected by the activities of corporations in the decision-making processes of companies; preservation and protection of the environment for present and future generations; and respect for the dignity of every person.”
He said the university aligned itself with this and that together, the Bench Marks Foundation and the Bench Marks Centre called for human rights policies based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to be enforced.
Kgwadi said that, although Kumba Iron Ore is working on its corporate social responsibility, there is definitely room for improvement, especially if they wish to be sustainable and obtain and retain a social licence to operate.
