Research outputs

The full list of research outputs, including reports, publications, articles and other products, will be made available here in late 2019. In addition, visit the project's Inputs to have a look at the strengths that the project team brings.

News

5 Feb 2020: A 5-part opinion piece, authored by Aysha Lotter, that investigates a potential solution to the detrimental environmental and social impacts of the mining industry. The series introduces the circular economy thinking to the mining industry in South Africa to bring the industry into a greener future. 

Mine(d) Over Matter:

• Part 1: A Marriage of High Theory and Deep Practice in South African Mining
• Part 2: Restorative Justice in the Mining Industry
• Part 3: Mining Fibrous Plants
• Part 4: South African Law and Policy in a Fibrous-Plant Future
• Part 5: An example of the theory put into practice

Project Reports

The full set of research reports was published in October 2019. 

• Mostert, H., Paterson, A. and van Schalkwyk, L. (2019). From Tailings to Tillings: Designing the Legal Framework for Mine Wasteland Rehabilitation Through Bioremediation. Mineral Law in Africa (MLiA) Policy Brief: DSI-NRF CoP/PB1, October 2019, UCT.
• Harrison, S., Rumjeet, S.,  Mabasa, X. and Verster, B. (2019). Towards Resilient Futures: Can fibre-rich plants serve the joint role of remediation of degraded mine land and fuelling of a multi-product value chain? Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research (CeBER) Policy Brief: DSI-NRF CoP/PB2 October 2019, UCT.
• Broadhurst, J.,  Chimbganda, T. and Hangone, G. (2019). Identification and Review of Downstream Options for the Recovery of Value from Fibre Producing Plants: Hemp, Kenaf and Bamboo. Minerals to Metals (MtM) Working Paper: DSI-NRF CoP/WP201903, October 2019, UCT.
• Allen, C., Bhorat, H., Hill, R., Rooney, C. and Steenkamp, F. (2019). Building Economic Complexity in the South African Fibrous Plant Economy. Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU), Working Paper: DSI-NRF CoP/WP201904, October 2019, UCT.

Policy Briefs

The full set of policy briefs was published in mid-October 2019. 

• Towards Resilient Futures CoP (2019). Policy Briefs: Developing a Fibre Micro-industry to Generate Economic Growth from Degraded Land Post-Mining. DSI-NRF-UCT CoP/PBs1-4, October 2019. University of Cape Town.
• Mostert, H., Paterson, A., van Schalkwyk, L., Lotter, A. and Kgosana, R. (2019). From Tailings to Tillings: Designing the Legal Framework for Mine Wasteland Rehabilitation Through Bioremediation. Mineral Law in Africa (MLiA) Policy Brief: DSI-NRF CoP/PB1, October 2019, UCT.
• Harrison, S., Rumjeet, S.,  Mabasa, X. and Verster, B. (2019). Towards Resilient Futures Can fibre-rich plants grown on degraded mine land fuel a multi-product value chain? Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research (CeBER) Policy Brief: DSI-NRF CoP/PB2 October 2019, UCT.
• Broadhurst, J.,  Chimbganda, T. and Hangone, G. (2019). Multi-Product Potential of Fibre-Rich Plants Hemp, Kenaf & Bamboo. Minerals to Metals (MtM) Policy Brief: DSI-NRF CoP/PB3, October 2019, UCT.
• Hill, R. and Steenkamp, F. (2019). Developing Capabilities to Build the Complexity of the Fibrous Plant Economy in South Africa. Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU), DPRU Policy Brief: DSI-NRF CoP/4, October 2019, UCT.

Publications & Events

22 May 2018: Occasional Paper: H Mostert & C Young ‘From promise to practice: Can South Africa’s legal framework for mineral resources and the sustainable development goals?’ South African Institute of International Affairs - SAIIA Ocassional Paper No 279.
This paper assesses the extent to which the legal framework governing mineral resources is capable of facilitating the realisation of two targets within the broader goal of ‘responsible consumption and production’. 

2018: Book & publication launch event: C Digby, D Bradshaw, H Mostert & B Chicksen (eds) Green Mining: Beyond the Myth – Perspectives on the Future of Mining (Juta, 2018).

On the 4 February 2018, the Green Mining: Beyond the Myth Publication was launched at the Two Oceans Aquarium, Cape Town. This event featured guest speakers: Dr Max Price (Vice Chancellor, University of Cape Town), Sipho Pityana (Chairman of UCT Council and Independent Non-Executive Chairman, AngloGold Ashanti), and The Honourable Minister Jeff Radebe (Member of Parliament and Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, RSA). 2018The publication itself widely acknowledges that 'business as usual' is no longer possible when it comes to mining and assists in mapping the direction towards a new mining and minerals beneficiation vision.

15 July 2018: The Conversation Op-Ed: Finding ways to keep communities alive after mine closures

Co-authored by Bernelle Verster, Cheri-Leigh Young, Francois Steenkamp, Jennifer Lee Broadhurst and Sue Harrison, this article discusses the research investigating different approaches to mine closures, viewed from several angles, including how value can be added by treating acid mine drainage through biomining, evaluating sustainable development in the context of mines preparing for closure, evaluating the legal requirements to facilitate mine transformation and investigating the economic complexity required to grow the South African economy beyond primary resource extraction. Read full article.

17 July 2018: Classic FM / Moneyweb Radio (Classic Business Breakfast) Interview: Keeping communities alive after mine closures

Bernelle Verster interviewed by presenter Arabile Gumede, discussing the options available for mining communities after mine closures.  Download full interview.

5 November 2018: Paper Presentation: Prof H. Mostert presented "Innovations in Mine Waste Land Rehabilitation: the Two Sides of the Law", at the Middle-East Environmental Law Conference, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar, to an audience of about 100 scholars, students and practitioners.

Forthcoming

Abstract accepted: Tapiwa Chimbganda, Gregory Hangone and Jennifer Lee Broadhurst: Exploring the potential use of fibre-rich plants for creating post-mining industrial development. 13^th International Conference on mine Closure, to be held 3-5 September 2019, Perth. Western Australia.