Evolution of Mining Company Responses to Civil Society Mobilization in South Africa

Bibliographic Data

ID12679767
AuthorsSethulego Matebesi (0000-0003-0232-9769, corresponding author), Chitja Twala (0000-0002-3561-2694)
Year2023
Volume25
Issue2
Pages358-375
Publication date2023-07-28
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEnterprise & Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1467-2227 • E-ISSN: 1467-2235
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/eso.2023.23
OpenAlexW4385345601
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited27

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the social license to operate (SLO) are widespread global phenomena in mining-dependent countries. These self-regulated frameworks are used to ensure local ownership and as a response to conflict by mining companies. Over the past two decades, CSR in the mining industry has only been more prevalent in Africa and South Africa. Studies on CSR and SLO primarily focus on community perspectives. This paper interrogates how mining companies respond to civic social pressure by considering two cases that have experienced much conflict in South Africa. Based on eighteen in-depth interviews and an analysis of company and media reports, our case studies demonstrate that mining companies primarily use CSR and SLO to assert and maintain corporate control under the guise of promoting local ownership and sustainable mining. Such strategies provide temporary relief and gradually erode CSR and SLO’s legal and political imperatives

Business · Civil society · Community mobilization · Control (management · Corporate social responsibility · Economics · License · Management · Mining industry · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Engineering · Law · Mining and Resource Management · South African History and Culture · Tailings Management and Properties

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Open DOIOpen Access