INVITATION TO AN ONLINE PANEL DISCUSSION
Lessons from the Stilfontein Mining Crisis
Hosted by the Institute for African Alternatives (IFAA)
Date: 26th March 2025
Platform: Register for Zoom at: https://shorturl.at/Cs36V
The Institute for African Alternatives (IFAA) invites you to an engaging online panel discussion examining the pressing issues raised by the Stilfontein Mining Crisis. This critical discussion will address the lessons learned from the crisis and explore policy recommendations to ensure a sustainable and just future for artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM).
Key Discussion Points:
- Regulatory Reform: What policy adjustments should the government implement to ensure a sustainable and safe future for ASM?
- Economic Contribution: How can ASM be formalized to create jobs and boost economic growth while protecting miners?
- Activism & Labor Movements: What has been the impact of mining activists and worker organizations, and what urgent gaps remain?
- Corporate Accountability: How must large mining companies be held accountable for environmental damage, abandoned mines, and their complicity in illegal mining operations?
- Future of ASM: What role should the corporate mining sector play in integrating ASM into legal frameworks?
Meet the Panellists:
David van Wyk
David van Wyk is a South African mining activist and senior researcher at the Bench Marks Foundation, an organization dedicated to monitoring the social, environmental, and economic impacts of mining. He has been a vocal advocate for the formalization of ASM, arguing that policy reforms could generate billions in revenue while improving working conditions for miners. Van Wyk also emphasizes the importance of repurposing closed mines for sustainable development and energy production. His work includes community engagement, policy critique, and advocacy for a just transition in the mining sector.
Kgothatso Nhlengetwa
Kgothatso Nhlengetwa is a South African geologist specializing in ASM. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Geology from the University of the Witwatersrand and began her career at AngloGold Ashanti before shifting to research and policy work. As the founding director of Imbokodo Mining Services, she provides technical expertise, policy advisory, and training to support ASM formalization. She has collaborated with the South African government, served as a special advisor to the National Association of Artisanal Miners (NAAM), and was a guest speaker at the 2023 Mining Indaba.
Christopher Rutledge
Christopher Rutledge is a South African activist and the executive director of the MACUA WAMUA Advice Office, which advocates for the rights of mining-affected communities. He has been vocal about government policies that contribute to inequality in the mining sector and has criticized officials for failing to engage meaningfully with affected communities. Rutledge’s work highlights systemic exclusion and underdevelopment in mining regions, emphasizing the need for equitable policies and genuine community participation in decision-making processes.
Martin Jansen
Martin Jansen is a South African media activist and director of Workers’ World Media Productions (WWMP), an independent organization dedicated to amplifying the voices of workers and marginalized communities. Through WWMP, he has produced numerous documentaries, including Freedom Isn’t Free: The Freedom Charter Today, which critically examines South Africa’s post-apartheid progress. Jansen has been instrumental in using alternative media to advocate for social justice, labor rights, and grassroots activism.
Join us for this crucial conversation as we discuss solutions for sustainable mining practices and social justice in the extractive sector.
To register for this discussion please click this link: https://shorturl.at/Cs36V.