Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork
Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork
Wasting the Nation.indd - Groundwork
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Chapter 4: The toxic cradle of productionPlatinum: more precious than peopleDispossessing people of <strong>the</strong>ir land while trashing <strong>the</strong>ir environments is by no means arelic of <strong>the</strong> history of colonialism and apar<strong>the</strong>id. The lives and livelihoods of thousandsof rural people in Limpopo are being trashed right now by <strong>the</strong> mining activities of <strong>the</strong>world’s largest platinum producer, AngloPlatinum, 69 reports Actionaid [2008]. Theyhave lost <strong>the</strong>ir land, which is now being physically removed by open cast mining orcovered with mining waste. They have lost access to drinking water, now polluted andunfit for human consumption. They have lost <strong>the</strong>ir livelihoods and have not receivedadequate compensation. Their ancestral graves have been removed, injuring <strong>the</strong>irspiritual connection with <strong>the</strong> land. And <strong>the</strong>y have been excluded from decisions about<strong>the</strong>ir own future, as <strong>the</strong> mining giant established front organisations – 15 differentSection 21 companies – that signed agreements on <strong>the</strong>ir behalf accepting relocation.Their challenges to <strong>the</strong> AngloPlatinum land grab have been met with police brutalityand corporate legal action.The villagers are traditionally almost completely dependent on farming on communalland. Jobs are scarce and social services are minimal. Their o<strong>the</strong>r major source ofincome is from government grants – old age pensions and children’s allowances.Villagers in Ga-Pila, Potgietersrus, accuse <strong>the</strong> mine of cutting off <strong>the</strong>ir water andelectricity to force <strong>the</strong>m to move. Two water reservoirs disappeared under miningwaste. The municipality did not reconnect or re-establish a water supply. Even where<strong>the</strong> land is not covered by waste, villagers are not allowed to plough because it is now‘mining property’.The villagers live – or used to live – on <strong>the</strong> richest platinum resource in <strong>the</strong> world.The Bushveld Mineral Complex hosts 88% of <strong>the</strong> world’s platinum and palladium.Platinum is used in catalytic converters for vehicles to reduce levels of carbon monoxide,hydrocarbons and nitrous oxides emissions to legislated levels. These catalysts,responsible for half <strong>the</strong> demand for <strong>the</strong> platinum minerals group, are mainly producedin Britain, Germany and Italy. Platinum is also used in <strong>the</strong> electrical, electronics andchemicals industries, for glass making and as jewellery. AngloPlatinum, which maderecord profits of US$ 1.75 billion in 2007, spends less than 1% of its profits on localcommunity development but makes extravagant claims about its positive influence.The claims are at odds with what Actionaid found on <strong>the</strong> ground.69 Anglo Platinum produces 40% of global platinum supply and controls 60% of platinum resources.- 96 - groundWork - <strong>Wasting</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Nation</strong>