Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of Management in Public Policy University of the Witwatersrand School of Governance / The research explores the socio-economic causes of Medupi Power Station on Lephalale. The mineral-energy outlook of Lephalale is attractive to the global players whilst the Lephalale Local Municipality’s authority is proving to be limited over the area. The knowledge of the community is outshined by the global players eager to invest. The “positivist approach” in public policy leads some to consider markets as the most effective means for social decisions, hence a reliance on Eskom’s corporate investments to offset damages. The idea seamlessly adjoins the “post-positivist approach” which acknowledges the vital role of conflict and political actors in the public policy arena. Any policy process is an outcome of both the “positivist and the post-positivist approach” (Howlett, Ramesh & Perl (2009). Eskom’s corporate social responsibility/investment is inadequate to address the socio-economically and ecologically-subjugated communities, which occasionally resort to violent protest. A balance between profit and social needs is unavoidable. Leadership should ensure that the policies and practice safeguard the interest of future generations. This qualitative research employs documents and interviews to describe Medupi’s socio-economic factors on Lephalale. The Lephalale Local Municipality, political parties, and the Lephalale Library are key participants. / XL2019

D. Litt. et Phil.(Leadership in Performance and Change) / The aim of this study was to develop an organisation development model to support organisational change and transformation in a dynamic, continuously changing business environment, specifically for the mining industry in South Africa. Literature revealed that there is a tendency to employ universal and generic models to challenges of organisational change, whereas successful 00 needs a situation specific or contextualised approach. The field of OD reflects a paucity of empirical research, necessitating a greater research competence and more in-depth, robust empirical 00 studies to answer to 'contemporary contextual and environmental challenges. A further call is voiced towards OD to resolve organisational change challenges from a systemic perspective, which has been a central tenet of the field. A number of research participants from a South African company that has been implementing organisational change and transformation interventions in the mining sector, were selected by means of purposive sampling. A modernist qualitative approach with the case study as research strategy was utilised during the development of the model. Various data collection techniques were utilised with grounded theory as a data analysis technique to explore and systematically develop the concepts and categories of the model. Atlas.ti, together with manual coding procedures were utilised to systematically organise and analyse the rich descriptive data. Credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability were ensured by following the guidelines presented in the literature. In the literature study, the sample's narrative was critically contrasted against the established scientific knowledge base of OD, considering specifically taxonomies, models and theories related to the emergent OD model. The resulting model deviates from the established perspectives on OD, in that it reflects a hybrid of several fields of study endeavour. The latter is consistent with a business practice perspective that integrates and deal with a single application domain, compared to a science-informed perspective which conducts research largely within defined (and confined) disciplinary boundaries. The OD model has implications for the mining industry in South Africa, and the development of grounded theory should facilitate the application thereof in future research.

A research report presented to the Department of Social Work School of Human and Community Development, Faculty of Humanities University of the Witwatersrand, July 2017 / Women have previously been discouraged from pursuing careers in the mining industry given the nature of the work in the field and the physical strength needed to do the work. However, literature has reported an increase in the number of women penetrating the field in recent years (Benya, 2009; Singer, 2002). New legislative frameworks in South Africa, such as the Mining Charter of 2002 (amended 2010) and the Mineral Petroleum Resources Development Act have made provisions for females to be absorbed into the field of mining, but this has not gone without challenges. This study thus sought to gain in-depth understanding of the experiences of underground female mine workers and demystify gender barriers that affect the functioning of women within the mining sector. The study was qualitative in nature and adopted a case study design to richly understand the phenomenon. The study used semi-structured interviews to collect data. Ten participants and two key informants were selected using purposive sampling technique. Data collected from participants was analysed using thematic analysis, in conjunction with the literature reviewed. The study addressed the social and human needs of female mine workers. It was found that, the mining industry has not been progressive in adequately addressing the unique needs of women who work underground. The study was essential in unravelling the experiences of female mine workers and thus made recommendations that can be used to introduce workplace appropriate interventions to be implemented to ensure that underground women mine workers are well accommodated within the industry. / XL2018

Thesis (M.Com. (Development Theory and Policy))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, School of Economic and Business Sciences. / South Africa has been referred to as a country of “geological superlatives” because of its rich and diverse mineral resource base. Despite its unique endowment of precious metals and mineral resources, the country has fallen short of translating these resources into the required economic linkages that will lead to sustainable employment creation and economic emancipation for the majority of its people. Whilst the country has established, successful critical upstream industries based on its natural resource advantage, it has not managed to develop successful downstream value additions in most of its strategic value chains, most notably the chromium mineral value chain. This paper explores the significance of the chromium mineral value chain in the context of South Africa’s economic development trajectory, the dynamics between the mining and manufacturing sectors, the ongoing structural constraints, and the implications all these have on stainless steel fabrication. South Africa is a dominant player in chrome, consuming approximately 80% of the world’s chromite ore reserves and is undeniably one of the major producers of ferrochromium globally, with production accounting for approximately 34% of total world production. Despite a mature ferrochromium industry that boasts world-class ferrochromium manufacturing facilities and contributes massively to the domestic and global economies, a declining market share to China threatens the sector. The availability (or lack thereof) of power supply, high energy costs, uncompetitive domestic prices amongst other structural issues are contributing to this decline. The challenge remains in government, the mining industry, labour and all other affected stakeholders to engage robustly in order to preserve a value chain that possesses enough potential to enhance the development of the country, both socially and economically.

A research report submitted to the Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management in Finance and Investment, 2016 / This research investigated the application of capital budgeting and risk analysis techniques and their effect on company performance in the South African mining industry. Studies internationally and locally have reported an improved application of capital budgeting techniques— away from the naïve, non-discounted cash flow techniques of the Payback Period (PBP) to the more appropriate discounted cash flow methods of Net Present Value (NPV) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR). In a survey distributed to the Finance Managers, Officers and Directors of mining companies in South Africa, we confirmed the increased sophistication in capital budgeting— the results suggest that 83.3% prefer NPV, 61.5% always use IRR and only 58.3% use PBP. On the other hand, and in contrast to capital budgeting, risk analysis is still comparatively naïve; with sensitivity analysis being the dominant technique used in the mining industry. The sophisticated methods of scenario testing and real option analysis (ROV) are rarely employed. An empirical analysis on the effects of capital budgeting and risk analysis on company performance has yielded results in contradiction with the theory of capital budgeting. The finding of the study is a negative and/or insignificant relation of capital budgeting and risk analysis sophistication to company performance as measured by return of assets (ROA). Although this finding is counterintuitive and contradicts theory, it is, however, consistent with international studies of this nature. / XL2018

Coal combustion is recognized as the primary source of anthropogenic mercury emission in South Africa followed by gold mining. Coal is also known to contain trace concentrations of mercury which is released to the environment during coal mining, beneficiation or combustion. Therefore, determining the mercury speciation in coal is of importance in order to understand its behavior and fate in the environment. Mercury was also used, at a large extent, in the Witwatersrand Basin (South Africa) for gold recoveries until 1915 and is still used in illegal artisanal mining. Consequences of these activities are the release of mercury to the environment. Nowadays, gold (and uranium) is also recovered through the reprocessing of old waste dumps increasing the concern related to mercury pollution. While much effort has been put in the northern hemisphere to understand and control problems related to anthropogenic mercury release and its fate to the ecosystem, risk assessment of mercury pollution in South Africa was based, until very recently, on total element concentrations only or on non systematic fragmental studies. It is necessary to evaluate mercury speciation under the country’s semi arid conditions, which are different to environmental conditions that exist in the northern hemisphere, and characterize potential sources, pathways, receptors and sinks in order to implement mitigation strategies and minimize risk. In this study, analytical methods and procedures have been developed and/or optimized for the determination of total mercury and the speciation of inorganic and organic forms of mercury in different sample matrices such as air, coal, sediment, water and biota. The development of an efficient and cost effective method for total gaseous mercury (TGM) determination was achieved using nano-gold supported metal oxide (1% wt Au) sorbents and cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry (CV-AFS). Analytical figures of merit and TGM concentrations obtained when using Au/TiO2, as a mercury trap, were similar to those obtained with traditional sorbents. The combination of isotope dilution with the hyphenated gas chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ID GC-ICP-MS) was also achieved and used successfully for the speciation analysis of mercury in solid, liquid and biological samples. The developed, or optimized, methodologies were used to estimate the average mercury content and characterize the speciation of mercury in South African coals, and also to study the speciation of mercury in selected South African environmental compartments impacted by gold mining activities. The obtained average mercury content in coals collected from the Highveld and Waterberg coalfields (0.20 ± 0.03 mg kg-1) was close to the reported United States Geological Survey (USGS) average for South African coals. Speciated isotope dilution analyses and sequential extraction procedures revealed the occurrence of elemental mercury, inorganic and organo-mercury species, and also the association of mercury mainly to organic compounds and pyrite. The environmental pollution assessment was conducted within the Witwatersrand Basin, at four gold mining sites selected mainly for their mining history and from geophysical information obtained through satellite images. This study showed a relatively important pollution in three of the four sites, namely the Vaal River west site near Klerksdorp, the West Wits site near Carletonville (both in the North-West Province) and the Randfontein site in the West Rand (Gauteng Province). Only one site, the closed Rietfontein landfill site in the East Rand (Gauteng Province) was found to be not impacted by mercury pollution. The methylation of mercury was characterized in all sites and factors governing the mercury methylation process at the different study sites were also investigated. Geochemical models were also used to explain the distribution, transport and fate of mercury in the study systems.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering, 2017 / The Merensky Reef vertical grade distribution is highly variable within Styldrift I Mine. The variable nature of the Merensky Reef mineralisation necessitates regular and timeous updating of the planned mining cut with sampling information so that the optimum can be applied during mining operations. The current geochemical assay analysis that is used for the analysis of platinum group elements (PGEs) has been proven to be accurate and precise however it is expensive with long turn-around times from the laboratory. Portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) technology has been tested as an alternative to measure the platinum group element content along the Merensky Reef. pXRF technology cannot accurately measure PGE content directly. Copper and nickel are detectable by the pXRF analyser and, like PGEs, copper and nickel mineralisation peaks along Merensky Reef horizon. Copper and nickel were therefore tested as potential pathfinder elements to target PGE mineralisation along the Merensky Unit. The testing of the pXRF analyser was undertaken by analysing the accuracy of the results it produces as well as determining if a regression between copper/nickel to PGE content is possible along the Merensky Unit. The pXRF did not produce results of adequate accuracy as a consistent significant bias was detected with pXRF results which were consistently lower than laboratory results. Calibration of the pXRF using site specific samples was not sufficient to overcome the bias. Regressions from copper/nickel to PGEs were tested for the Merensky Footwall which could be isolated as a single data population. Significant outliers exist that do not fit the regression analysis due to the inconsistent PGE modes of occurrence along the Merensky Unit. Application of the pXRF to the study area therefore does not meet the required conditions. An underground trial of the pXRF has indicated that peaks in pXRF copper and nickel results often, but not always, coincide with peaks in PGE mineralisation. The pXRF can therefore be used as a low confidence indicator of PGE mineralisation however the user must be aware of the limitations of the instrument. pXRF analysis cannot be used reliably therefore geochemical assay analysis remains the most reliable method to analyse PGE content at Styldrift I Mine. / XL2018

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering, 2017 / Empowerment of previously disadvantaged groups has been applied in many countries, in order to achieve specific political, economic and social outcomes. Group preferences and preferential policies are common in developed and developing countries under various names. They have been mostly implemented in countries where a specific ethnic, religious, or gender group has been discriminated against historically. An ESOP is an empowerment tool that can be adapted and designed to achieve the goals of companies, employees and governments. An ESOP is an instrument used to enable employee ownership in private and public companies. Internationally the application of ESOPs have taken various architectures highly dependent on individual company and country circumstances. SA has a long and well documented history of racial discrimination and economic exclusion. Poverty, unemployment and inequality continue to bedevil the South African economy. Transformation in the mining industry is given effect in the Mining Charter which is governed under section 100 of the Minerals and Resources Development Act. The Charter is buttressed by a key set of pillars. These pillars are supplemented by the codes of good practice as well as the housing and living conditions standards. These pillars include reporting; ownership; housing and living conditions; procurement and enterprise development; employment equity; human resource development; mine community development; sustainable development and growth and beneficiation. This report focusses on the ownership pillar of the Charter. The mining industry has completed a number of empowerment deals post implementation of the Mining Charter. The impacts of most BEE deals have not been broad-based; and have mostly benefitted only a few HDSA entrepreneurs. The value and number of transactions have coincided with the rise and fall of the JSE, making the deals expensive – due to elevated stock prices in favourable market conditions. ESOPs enable extensive employee ownership; and have the ability to foster a sense of individual enterprise that fuels productivity in companies that have imbued a culture of ownership amongst their employees. ESOPs generally contribute positively to company performance; and they provide a stable and dynamic working environment, when administered effectively. ESOPs cannot be implemented in isolation; but they require a combination of factors to make them successful. ESOPs generally contribute positively to company performance; and they provide a stable and dynamic working environment, when administered effectively. Effective ESOPs require a combination of elements for success: these comprise of financial incentives, employee-involvement mechanisms and the instilling of an ownership culture. Anglo American was used as a proxy for the industry due to its size and diversity. ESOPs that have been implemented have failed to meet stakeholders’ expectations. These ESOPs are inconsistent, complicated and mostly opaque to employees; whilst delivering modest returns to employees. This report proposes the application of a new ESOP framework that is to be considered in amending existing ESOPs or in the crafting of new programmes. Existing ESOPs are assessed against this proposed framework in this report. The proposed ESOP framework is supported by a set of key principles, essential to the success of the framework. The performance of ESOPs in Anglo American varied when assessed against the framework. With the exception of Envision, Anglo American’s ESOPs have delivered very modest financial benefits to employees. They have not achieved their intended purpose, of empowering employees and aligning company performance with individual employee performance. When assessed against the other pillars of the framework, KIO and AAP did not perform satisfactorily. / XL2018

Thesis presented in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Management (in the field of Public Sector Monitoring and Evaluation) to the Faculty of Commerce, Law, and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, 2016 / The South African Government set up the Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) in 1996 under the Mine Health and Safety Act, 29 of 1996 to train mineworkers on health and safety issues to minimise injuries and deaths. Later the then Minister of labour reestablished the Authority as a Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) in 2000 when SETAs were set up to replace the old Industry Training Boards (ITBs) (Skills Development Act, 97 of 1998). The mandate of SETAs includes providing for learnerships, internships, undergraduate bursaries, graduate development programmes, and apprenticeships. These Authorities have several challenges. These include poor governance, lack of accountability, Lack of and poor quality data, inadequate information management, and absent or ineffective monitoring and evaluation arrangements (Ministerial Task Team on Performance of SETAs, 2013). These challenges have not spared the MQA and has led to declining performance for two consecutive financial years; namely, 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 (MQA Annual Reports, 2012-2013 and 2013-2014. However, only effective monitoring and evaluation arrangements can track and assess reliably how the Authority is performing and why. Therefore, we need to examine the Authority’s monitoring and evaluation system. To undertake this examination, the study posed two questions. To understand our research context, we reviewed literature relating to the history and description of the Authority and the establishment of the SETAs in general. We further undertook a research problem analysis to understand the history and description of monitoring and evaluation in the South African public sector. To do this, we reviewed briefly monitoring and evaluation systems of other developed and developing countries globally. From the reviewed literature, we developed a conceptual framework to guide our research in collecting, processing, and analysing of results. Relatedly, we developed an explanatory framework that helped us in interpreting our findings. Some of our findings pointed to the weaknesses of the MQA’s monitoring and evaluation system in such areas of monitoring and evaluation organisational capacity and documented monitoring and evaluation reporting processes and system. We concluded by providing some recommendations to strengthen the MQA’s monitoring and evaluation system / XL2018

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts in Anthropology, Johannesburg 2015 / Research in the mining community of Carletonville focused on how individuals negotiate and contest different value orientations in trying to construct a workable moral economy. Based on in-depth qualitative interviews and observations of respondents from lower and higher wage classes, the report deconstructs the elements of differential value sets that are redefining and sometimes destabilizing the moral economy and underlining views of inequality. Wage disputes are seen not only as mine workers' expressions of economic injustice but perhaps more crucially as a form of control and protection of their craft and status. The dominance of global economic governance and decision-making is leading to more acute internal divergences but can also be a starting point for a discussion about the impact of conflicts in social values. / XL2018