Thesis (M. Sc.(Geography)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / Global production of Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) is dominated by South Africa due to
its large economic resources base in the Bushveld Igneous Complex (BIC). PGMs are
used in a wide range of high technology applications worldwide including medicinal,
industrial and commercial purposes, and its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) and creating jobs for many. In an area where mining activities dominate, there are
likely to be problems that need effective environmental management approaches, which
can be facilitated through legislations. Marula Platinum Mine (MPM) is located in Limpopo
province BIC which has the second largest number of mining productivity in South Africa.
Environmental legislations have been put in place by the South African government in
order to avoid or minimise the footprints caused by PGM mining.
This study looked at environmental compliance with solid waste management practices
by Marula Platinum Mine (MPM) as guided by Mineral and Petroleum and Resource
Development Act (MPRDA) and National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) as
well as the environmental impacts of MPM in the surrounding communities. Both primary
(questionnaires, field observations and key informant interviews) and secondary (NEMA,
MPRDA, journals, reports, pamphlets, internet and books) data was used to address the
objectives of the study. Descriptive method and Statistical Package for Social Sciences
(SPSS) version 25 were used for the analysis of data. The key research results revealed
that MPM was compliant with 65% and 21% partially compliant with solid waste
management practices. Only 14% of information on solid waste management practices
could not be accessed because MPM is still operational. MPM had also had negative
footprints on the surrounding villages such as dust generation and cracks on walls and
floors on houses of community members, strikes and increase in the usage of substance
abuse.
Recommendations of the study are that MPM should address challenges that hinder
environmental compliance so as to be 100% compliant with MPRDA and NEMA
regulations. MPM should also provide other mitigation measures for blasting of explosives
to reduce dust generation and problems of cracks on houses of surrounding village
members.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ul/oai:ulspace.ul.ac.za:10386/3722 |
| Date | January 2019 |
| Creators | Manyekwane, Dikeledi, Lethabo |
| Contributors | Mollel, M.H.N., Letsoalo, J. M. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xv, 229 leaves |
| Relation |
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