Socio-economic and environmental impacts of small-scale mining in the Sarah Baartman District

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess, on limited scale, the socio-economic and environmental impact of small-scale mining in the Sarah Baartman District Municipality, a municipality that is predominantly rural in nature and stricken by poverty. The topic of legal and illegal small-scale mining has received considerable attention from both the government and communities in recent years. At the heart of small-scale mining is enshrined the goals of creating employment and promoting the economic growth and development of the district. This study investigates the results of both a legal and an illegal mining operation in the municipality