This study explores the potential extension of occupational health and safety to informal small scale miners in South Africa. It was motivated by an understanding of the integral but much neglected relationship between the quality of work and the goals of poverty reduction and economic development. The study recognises that poor working conditions can reduce productivity and that work-related injury or illness is an unaffordable risk for those working without access to adequate social protection. Further, the protection of labour standards, including work health and safety, is an established basic right in those countries where relevant LLO Conventions have been ratified. Conventional occupational health and safety (OHS) regulation operates through formal employment structures and therefore offers limited or no protection to informal workers. In a country where increasing policy attention is being paid at national and local level to the employment and economic growth potential of the informal economy, this study practically explores within one sector - mining - how the institutional positions of both conventional and identified non-conventional OHS stakeholders work to constrain, or provide opportunities for, the extension of health and safety protection to those working informally. The focus on one kaolin and one clay/coal informal small scale mine site within KwaZulu-Natal and the use of in-depth interviews with workers and a range of identified stakeholders enabled a structured qualitative investigation into the health and safety challenges faced by informal miners; the nature of the support provided to small scale mining by the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME); and the institutional processes acting through national, provincial and local structures that do or could influence workers' access to OHS. The threats presented by each mine to worker and public, as well as environmental health and safety were found to be numerous and severe. There was also evidence of a negative impact of poor working conditions on both the health and economic security of the workers. Despite this, the study identified a vacuum of accountability for the labour protection of informal miners. Conventional mining OHS mechanisms are vertically driven, resource intensive and technocratic. They are both inappropriate for and inflexible towards meeting the challenges presented by informal work. In a minority of cases interdependent links between the responsibil ities of non-conventional OHS stakeholders and work health and safety are understood, but the lack of a worker focus, the institutional boundaries within which people work, their limited OHS knowledge, and the major financial and human resource constraints they face, appear to present significant barriers to any actual OHS intervention. Through the research process it became clear that the management and nature of the DME's small scale mining support strategy itself present fundamental barriers to the extension of OHS. The strategy is a product of a narrow conceptual isation of what is needed to achieve formalisation. This, and the lack of genuine worker representation and accountability within it, means that not only does the strategy fail to attend to OHS and a variety of other worker needs, but that the DME continues unchallenged in its neglect of such issues. With an understanding of the real constraints faced by both workers and the range of identified OHS stakeholders, and in view of the future plans to overhaul the existing national OHS framework in South Africa, the study concludes by outlining some practical opportunities and recommendations that could help to break down existing barriers to the OHS protection of informal workers. Conventional OHS mechanisms could be reoriented to take advantage of cheaper, simpler and more appropriate workerled approaches which could potentially achieve substantial improvements for large numbers of informal workers. Realistic opportunities also exist to more firmly secure the participation of promising non-conventional OHS stakeholders including, in this case, formal mining companies and local government. Finally, there are ways to bridge existing deep divides between social and economic institutional responsibilities that currently serve to obscure potential resource sharing and multiplier impact opportunities of working more collaboratively to improve OHS for the benefit of informal workers. / Thesis (M.Dev. Studies)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2006.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Xstrata Coal South Africa (XCSA) embarked on a restructuring exercise towards the end of 2005 to enable the organisation and its management to adapt to the pressures and requirements of an ever-changing South African coal industry. The executive team of XCSA felt that some of the business units were too large to be effectively managed by one general manager and his/her management team. The Tweefontein and Impunzi business units fell into this category. Further, the executive team felt that the existing organisational structures on the mines were unable to effectively manage the demands coming from an ever-changing coal industry. Most such demands emanated from sustainable development issues: workplace safety, environmental management, health-related concerns to do with the employees and community development around the mines. The restructuring took place towards the end of 2005, not long after the restructuring of the business performance went into decline. The author of this thesis, as the General Manager of the Tweefontein Complex from the beginning of 2006 until mid-2008, was responsible for the day-to-day management of the division at the time. After explaining the need for restructuring, as well as how the structure was changed, the author will describe a comprehensive literature research study. The aim of such a study is to create a common understanding with the reader of the principles relating to culture, leadership and change management. The author then compares the two climate assessments of the organisational culture of the Boschmans Colliery undertaken during 2005 prior to embarking on the restructuring exercise, and of the Tweefontein Complex undertaken during 2007, on completion of the restructuring. Boschmans Colliery employees now constitute most of the underground and surface operations areas of the Tweefontein Complex. The organisational culture of the Tweefontein Complex was found to have been influenced by the restructuring exercise. The author concludes with recommendations on how the organisational culture of XCSA as a whole could be aligned. Chief among the recommendations are that: • A cultural alignment programme should be implemented to create a common organisational culture across XCSA. • A leadership development programme should be implemented to promote the desired organisational culture. • A communication strategy should be implemented to support the cultural alignment programme. • A branding campaign should be launched to strengthen the image of XCSA within the surrounding community. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Xstrata Coal South Africa (XCSA) het aan die einde van 2005 besluit om die besigheid te herstruktureer om aan te pas by die veranderende aard van die Suid-Afrikaanse steenkoolindustrie. Die gevoel van die uitvoerende komitee was dat sekere van die besigheidseenhede te groot was om effektief deur een algemene bestuurder, bestuur te word. Die Tweefontein- en Impunzi-besigheidseenhede het in die kategorie geval. Verder het die uitvoerende kommitee gevoel dat die bestaande bestuurstruktuur per myn nie voldoende was om al die verwagtinge vanuit 'n vinnig veranderende steenkoolindustrie effektief te kan bestuur nie. Die vernaamste verwagtinge van die vinnig veranderende industrie was die vanuit die veld van Volhoubaarheid, naamlik veiligheid op myne, omgewingsbewustheid, gesondheid van die werknemers, sowel as die opbou van die gemeenskap. Die herstrukturering het aan die einde van 2005 plaasgevind en nie lank na die herstrukturering nie het die prestasie van die besigheid drasties afgeneem. Die skrywer was die Algemene Bestuurder van die Tweefontein Complex vanaf die begin van 2006 tot die middel van 2008, en was verantwoordelik vir die dag-tot-dag-bestuur van die afdeling. As deel van die studie sal die skrywer eerstens poog om die redes vir die herstrukturering te gee en ook hoe die nuwe struktuur daar uitsien. Tweedens sal die skrywer 'n deeglike literatuurstudie verskaf om 'n gemeenskaplike verstandhouding tussen die skrywer en die leser oor die beginsels van kultuur, leierskap en veranderingsbestuur te skep. Derdens sal die skrywer die resultate van twee klimaatstudies ontleed wat op die besigheidskultuur van die Boschmans-steenkoolmyn in 2005 voor die herstrukturering gedoen is en een wat in 2007 op die Tweefontein Complex na die herstrukturering gedoen is. Die werknemers van die Boschmans-steenkoolmyn maak tans die grootste gedeelte van die Tweefontein Complex se ondergrondse en aanleg- en logistieke afdelings uit. Na aanleiding van die analise van die twee klimaatstudies, bevind die skrywer dat die herstrukturering 'n daadwerklike invloed op die kultuur van die Tweefontein Complex gehad het. Die skrywer maak dan na gelang van sy bevindinge aanbevelings oor hoe die kultuur van Xstrata Coal South Africa (XCSA) as 'n geheel belyn kan word. Sy belangrikste aanbevelings is as volg: • Die implementering van 'n kultuurbelyningsprogram om 'n gemeenskaplike besigheidskultuur regoor Xstrata Coal South Africa (XCSA) daar te stel. • Die implementering van 'n leierskapsontwikkelingsprogram wat belyn is met die verlangde besigheidskultuur. • Die implementering van 'n kommunikasiestrategie wat die kultuurbelyningsprogram ondersteun. • Die loodsing van 'n Xstrata Coal South Africa (XCSA) bemarkingsveldtog am Xstrata Coal se beeld in die gemeenskap te bevorder.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering / Regulation 10.24 of the Minerals Act (1991) of the Republic of South Africa is applied for the purpose of preventing the development and propagation of coal-dust explosions in underground coal mines. ( Abbreviation abstract ) / AC2017

MESMEG / Department of Mining and Environmental Geology / The future of energy in South Africa depends on coal as it is one of the cheapest and most affordable sources of energy; however, some of the coal is uneconomical to mine due to the thickness and depth of the coal seams. For many years the coal resources of the Soutpansberg Coalfield remained untapped and limitedly researched and with the coal resources running out in the other coalfields, the Soutpansberg Coalfield remained the bright coalfield of tomorrow in South Africa. Coal seams in the Soutpansberg Coalfield occur within the Madzaringwe Formation. Three coal basins have been identified in this coalfield, are the Venda-Pafuri, Tshipise and Mopane. Sedimentological basin analysis of the coal stratigraphy and characterisation of the Soutpansberg Coalfield in the Makhado area, Limpopo Province was investigated within the farms of Rissik, Fannie, Duel, and Lurkin. The main purpose of the study was to establish the variation of the coal stratigraphy and how coal influenced the stratigraphy within the area. Fieldwork involved core logging and core sampling from the different farms within the Makhado coal area, while laboratory work included petrographic studies, investigation of the physical and chemical properties of coal. Core logging revealed the occurrence of coal zones where coal seams were intercalating with mudstones, but rarely with siltstone that formed the footwall of coal. Rarely was coal intruded by dolerite dyke as was the case along borehole W6610001. Core logging further revealed the sedimentary structures in the lithologies and the depth at which different lithologies were intersected. From these sedimentary structures, the environment of coal deposition was deduced supported by the geochemical analysis of major oxides and trace elements. Correlation of boreholes along the strike showed that the shale and mudrock were the predominant rocks within the coal horizon leading to the conclusion that these were the coal host rocks. Whole rock geochemical analysis was undertaken, using X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy in order to establish the rock types and their trace element contents. The collected samples were analysed at the University of Venda, Department of Mining and Environmental Geology Laboratory, Siza Coal Services in Secunda and Council for Geoscience. The study indicated that the coal seams of the Soutpansberg Coalfield were deposited within the floodplain of a mixed-load fluvio-deltaic (fluvial and braided) systems. This sedimentary channel has been the major influence on the development of the coal seams. Locational changes in sedimentary facies above and below the coal seams within the study area has caused variations in the rates of compaction and subsidence which influenced the coal basin morphology and the coalification pattern. These two parameters (variations in the rates of compaction and subsidence) controlled the coal quality parameters, and coal seam thickness as well as the coal composition. The study confirmed that coal quality and thickness vary markedly from place to place in this coalfield due to varying local depositional environments. Most of the drill holes intersected mainly 3 coal seams, although in some cases either 2 or 5 seams were intersected. The thickest coal seam (borehole F578002) was 8 m. It was concluded that the coal was sub-bituminous to bituminous coal rank class (medium-volatile bituminous coal rank class). The coal had low moisture content ranging from 0.7-0.8%, and ash content ranging from 21.4-32%. The fixed carbon and volatile matter values of the coal samples ranged from 42.5 to 50.4% and from 25.2 to 27.4% respectively. The carbon and hydrogen were the main principal combustible elements in coal, however; carbon is the predominant one based on weight, constituting about 5.3% (the lowest) to 70.3% (highest) of the total. Due to the nature and thickness of the coal seams we conclude that this coal was economical to be mined and can be used for electricity generation and in cement grinding plants. A graph of coal gas concentrations over combustion time showed that methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) had high gas concentrations, amounting to 1.75% and 1.70% respectively. / NRF

M.Sc.(Eng.), Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, 2011

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Johannesburg, March 2017. / This thesis follows the development of a particular set of large technical systems in South Africa from the late apartheid era into the age of democracy. During apartheid technological prowess, upheld by the network of state corporations or parastatals, bolstered the authoritarian rule of the white minority government in South Africa. The economic and political liberalisation of the late 1980s challenged the power of the parastatals and altered the underlying rationale of infrastructure development. In particular I describe the transformation of Iscor and Eskom, two of the country’s major parastatals, and their activities in the Waterberg coalfields, an isolated region on the country’s north-western border. While Eskom’s activities in the region began in the 1980s they gained public notoriety with the construction of the Medupi power station two decades later. The obstacles that Eskom faced at Medupi represent the main challenge of developing large technological infrastructures in the democratic, post-colonial order, where the fruits of infrastructure development demand to be spread beyond the bounds of an elite minority. But the eventual completion of some power generating units in 2015 at Medupi demonstrates that failure is not inevitable. I argue that this success is due to the fact that the autonomous parastatal network negotiated the political and economic liberalisation of the early 1990 by incorporating the changing socio-political conditions into its operations. The parastatal network retained a momentum, in the sense first described by the historian of technology Thomas Hughes, which was also a product of the “locked-in” nature of investment in the infrastructure project. Because of the large capital investment required for the infrastructure development, proceeding tenaciously against the odds to see the project to completion was cheaper than retreat for those involved. / MT2018

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / Some digitised pages may appear illegible due to the condition of the original hard copy / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Successful organisations keep a well-balanced fit between their strategy, structure, processes, reward system and culture. Any significant change in any of the elements requires management to rethink and probably redesign the rest of the elements. Tshikondeni Coal Mine went through various changes the last few years. These changes were brought about by, amongst other things, a re-engineering project, production expansion and the appointment of new management A significant portion of the employees was newly appointed. Some of the older employees were appointed in other positions, or were required to do different work. Tshikondeni had to make sure that employees were equipped with the needed competency to do their job to the required standard and in a safe manner. The process started by ensuring that employees' medical profile fit that required by their jobs. They were also trained in identifying the hazards associated with their jobs and how to minimise exposure to risks. The gap between the competencies required for each job and that possessed by the job incumbent was identified. Training was designed to fill the identified gaps. Iscor management's annual salary increase is performance driven. The process of designing post profiles, competency documents and personal performance contracts is described. The link between the personal performance contract, the annual salary increase and the personal development plan is discussed. There is still no clear link between the annual salary increase of operational employees and their performance. Plans are in place to eventually reward all employees on a performance driven basis. The training section on Tshikondeni Mine was designed to support business objectives. It is also aligned with the trends experienced in modern training. The section, amongst other things, caters (through the use of an interactive multi media system) for the bulk of mining employees who can't read or write. All training information is kept on a central database. Employees must not only be able to do their job, but also willing or motivated to do it. Management created a work and home environment conducive towards motivated employees. A psychosocial study was done to. determine how employees and their families felt towards their environment. The results helped management to focus energy where problems were identified. Problems and pitfalls encountered during the process to ensure competency are discussed. The process followed by the mine is elucidated with modern trends, statements, remarks and suggestions found in literature. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hoë prestasie organisasies se strategië, strukture, prosesse, vergoedingstelsels en kultuur is in balans met dit wat sukses voorskryf. Enige wesenlike verandering in enige van die elemente kan veroorsaak dat die res van die elemente herbesoek en moontlik herontwerp moet word. Tshikondeni Steenkoolmyn het groot veranderinge oor die afgelope aantal jare beleef. Hierdie veranderinge was onder andere veroorsaak deur en proses herontwerp, produksie uitbreiding en die aanstelling van nuwe bestuur. en Beduidende hoeveelheid van wernemers was nuut aangestel. Van die ouer werknemers was aangestel in nuwe poste of was verwag om nuwe take te verrig. Tshikondeni moes verseker dat werknemers toegerus was met die nodige bevoegdheid om die werk te kan doen volgens die verlangde standaard en op en veilige manier. Die proses was begin deur te verseker dat werknemers se persoonlike mediese profiel pas by die profiel benodig deur hulle poste. Hulle was opgelei in die identifisering van gevaar in hulle werksomgewing en hoe om die risiko van blootstelling aan die gevaar te minimeer. Die gaping tussen werknemers se bevoegdhede en dié verlang deur hulle poste was geïdentifiseer. Opleiding was ontwikkel om die gapings aan te spreek. Iscor Bestuur ontvang jaarliks enprestasie gebasseerde salaris verhoging. Die proses wat gevolg is met die ontwerp van pos profiele, bevoegdheidsdokumente en persoonlike prestasiekontrakte word beskryf. me verhouding tussen die persoonlike prestasie kontrak, die jaarlikse salaris aanpassing en die persoonlike ontwikkelingsplan word bespreek. Daar is tans nie en duidelike ooreenkoms tussen die jaarlikse salaris aanpassing wat bedryfspersoneel ontvang en hulle prestasievlakke nie. Iscor het wel planne in plek om uiteindelik aan alle werknemers In prestasie gebasseerde vergoeding te betaal. Die opleidingseksie op Tshikondeni is ontwerp om besigheidsdoelwitte te ondersteun. Dit is ook belyn met moderne neigings met betrekking tot opleiding. Die seksie bedien, onder andere die grootste gedeelte van mynbou werknemers wat nie kan lees en skryf nie (met behulp van In interaktiewe multi media stelsel). Alle opleidings inligting word gestoor op In sentrale databasis. Werknemers moet nie net in staat wees om hul werk te kan doen nie, maar moet ook gemotiveerd wees om die werk te wil doen. Bestuur streef daarna om In werk- en huis omgewing te skep wat werknemers motiveer. In Psigososiale studie is gedoen om te bepaal hoe dat wememers en hulle gesinne voel ten opsigte van hulle omgewing. Die resultate het gehelp om bestuur se aandag en energie te fokus om probleme op te los. Probleme en slaggate ondervind tydens die bevoegdheidsproses word bespreek. Die proses gevolg word toegelig met moderne neigings, stellings, opmerkings en voorstelle soos wat gevind word in die literatuur.

Thesis. (D. Tech. - Business, Faculty of Management Sciences)--Vaal University of Technology, 2010. / The study explored the South African coal mining industry and it’s role players to establish the causes of the bottlenecks/constraints experienced in the coal mining industry supply chain. A qualitative research paradigm methodology was used. Both theoretical and philosophical assumptions were utilised with inferences from and references to works by other researchers to broaden the knowledge horizons for the study. Thirteen supply chain executives and professionals from the key role players in the coal mining industry were interviewed and provided invaluable input for the study. The study determined the presence of communication barriers between the industry role players in the public and private institutions that culminated in main themes and sub-themes being established from which the industry constraints were uncovered. The study identified six main constraints affecting the various role players within the coal mining supply chain and it culminated in the model that would enable the industry to minimise such constraints. To this end, the study proposes the development of an Integrated Strategy for the Development of Coal Mining (ISDCM).The model is based on the public and private partnership arrangement that would alleviate most of the prevailing constraints when implemented. The model would furthermore have the capacity to rectify most of the existing constraints. It would be funded from the commercial sector and would operate on triple bottom lines of economic, social and environmental factors, with equal weight. This is a desirable direction for the future in order to maintain sustainable development. Emanating from the study are policy and research recommendations for the South African coal mining industry, covering the coordination of the critical areas of the proposed integrated strategy for the development of the coal mining industry. Such recommendations include further research into new coal mines and power stations as well as perceptions and expectations of potential investors in the industry, among others.

Climate change adaptation has received limited attention compared to mitigation across all spatial levels. This is besides the documented adverse impacts of climate change in different sectors of societies including mining in general and coal mining specifically. Against this background, the study set three objectives. The first objective was to identify current and possible future climate change impacts that may affect selected coal mines in South Africa. The second objective was to establish the nature and extent to which these mines were ready to address and implement adaptation measures. The last objective was to determine and document existing climate change adaptation practices in selected mines. Employing the mixed methods approach, the research engaged five coal mines located in Mpumalanga, Free State and Kwa Zulu-Natal, gathering both the qualitative and quantitative data. This data was analysed thematically. The research made three major findings. The first finding was that the climatic conditions in the research areas have been changing over the observed period. In general, rainfall has been declining and temperatures have been increasing, leading to increased cases of extreme fog, mist and heatwaves. The second finding was that there has been an increase in frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, most notably, floods and droughts. These changes in the climate and associated weather events have frequently affected mine operations particularly at the production sub-chain of the coal mining value chain. The third major finding was that despite this evidence of adverse impact of climate change on the production sub-chain of the South African coal mining value chain, adaption responses in all the studied mines showed reactive adaptation to extreme events instead of proactive adaptation planning and implementation. South Africa depends on coal-derived energy, electricity in particular and the coal mines are implicitly exposed and vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change. Reducing this exposure and vulnerability dictates the urgent need to implement anticipatory adaptation measures in all the sub-chains of the coal mining value chain. / Environmental Sciences / D. Litt. et Phil (Environmental management)

PhD (Environmental Management) / Mining and mining-related activities remain the world’s most intensive, primary industrial activity undertaken with severe environmental impact. Coal mining falls within these primary undertakings, while coal burning for energy use further adds to environmental degradation. Coal burning is by far the least expensive and thus the most affordable means of energy supply to the South Africa low-income communities. It is likely that this status quo will continue indefinitely. The use of coal as an energy source in South African communities has been inherited with its resultant environmental (physical), social and economic implications. The physical implications are the actual hazards associated with coal during and after mining activities. “Physical hazards” include processes generating coal dust, coal ash and gaseous emissions, and hazards that manifest themselves from the existence of coal mining at a particular site, such as spontaneous combustion, surface instability and acid mine-water drainage. “Social hazards” are mostly the social and economic effects that are related to health. Social hazards associated with coal mining, coal processing and coal usage include dilution of cultural values, ethics, norms and the growth of informal sectors, for example, settlements and trade. Some of these hazards are immediate, while others are long-term and cumulative. Emphasis was placed on the cumulative effects of mining activities and the need to address issues relating to communities that live close to mining operations. This process of addressing community concerns is known as “creating a sustainable mining community”. South Africa hosted the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development and is a signatory of the working plan of action known as the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation. Therefore, one would expect to see that mining communities in South Africa are acting on and benefiting from this plan of action. The aim of this research is to assess the effectiveness of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation in promoting sustainable mining and sustainable communities through changes in practices, perceptions and community participation in decision making. The research, undertaken during February to June 2007, examines the role of stakeholders and local authorities in basic environmental decisions. Environmental decisions examined were the provision of education and information to the community, uplifting community welfare through corporate social investment and corporate social responsibility. The surrounding communities of eMalahleni (formerly Witbank) in the Mpumalanga (Highveld) coal-mining region – were identified as a suitable area for this case study. Social research tools, comprising multiple-choice and open-ended questions administered to 6 790 respondents (3 930 learners and 2 860 general adult population), 650 voluntary comments, six individual interviews, and a 20 member focus group discussion, were used. Photographic images and personal observation provided meaning to results by presenting the quantitative and qualitative data visually. A blended methodological approach was used to analyse the data using descriptive statistics and a t-test for variance. Tables, bar graphs and pie charts were the various representative techniques deployed during the analysis. Data were analysed comparing statistical input and responses of the learners and the general population. Results presented show that the studied community is aware of some hazards associated with coal from the mining process to indoor combustion. The community studied is aware of the need for pro-active measures to protect their community. Members of the community are not aware of company decisions affecting the community with regard to coal hazards. They are also unaware of the existence and application of environmental legislation. Awareness was not linked to education or information obtained from a reliable source, such as a mining company or a local authority. It was based on personal experience, longevity of dwelling in the community and observation of the health conditions of relatives and friends. Some voluntary comments from the respondents and photographic images are included to support the community’s outlook. The research concluded that there are more unidentified hazards in the community than were covered in the structured questionnaires. The responses received to the questionnaires exposed the mining industry as being dismissive when it came to applying the law. This evasive behaviour emanates from the laxity of the enforcement departments and responsible authorities. More needs to be done to attain the requirements of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation as agreed upon at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development.