SATRI Research Outputs

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Welcome to the SATRI research outputs community. In here you will find our research outputs (Books, Papers, Presentations, Reports, Reviews and more) collated digitally to be preserved and distributed.

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The 4IR and the promotion of women working in the South African mining sector
(Sam Tambani Research Institute, 2019-07-17) Kaggwa, Martin; Nchabeleng, Mpho
Women employment is a key factor to any country’s development – Women are a resource available for a country to engage in productive activities The post-1994 South African government has been pro-active in coming up with legislation to encourage women employment in formal sectors of the economy Specific to mining, government came up with a Mining Charter that specifies women employment targets in the sector. Despite the women progressive legislation, women still face challenges working in the sector. The emergence of 4IR would either reduce or add onto this challenges - This is the aspect of research interest presented in this paper.
Alternatives to Unbundling Eskom: Organised Labour Position
(Sam Tambani Research Institute, 2019-02) Sam Tambani Research Institute
It is undeniable that Eskom faces a number of problems and it is in financial distress. Something has to change at the entity. • This change, however, has to take into consideration Eskom’s mandate and its development role:  Eskom’s Mandate: providing electricity in an efficient and sustainable manner  Eskom’s Developmental Role: Promoting transformation, economic development and BBBEE in line with the National Development Plan • Government’s proposal of unbundling put emphasis on Eskom’s mandate. Less focus is put on Eskom’s development role. • Considering Eskom’s mandate together with the its development role is at the heart of organised labour position that Eskom should not be unbundled
AMD and the Mining Sector Contribution to the South African Economy
(Sam Tambani Research Institute, 2015) Sam Tambani Research Institute
Debate on how to make the mining sector in South Africa benefit more people and subsequently enhance the sector’s contribution to national development has tended to ignore that mining activities have negative effects to society. These negative effects, which economists broadly refer to as negative externalities of production, are important in assessing the short term and long term benefits of mining activities. Without taking into account the externalities, the sector’s contribution to the country’s economy is likely to be exaggerated. The chapter discusses the performance and contribution of the mining sector to the South African economy taking into account the negative externality element of the Acid Mine Drainage (AMD). It makes the case that profit and production levels for the sector have been kept higher than the optimal levels as a result of not taking into account the AMD. It suggests that this aspect need to be the acknowledged in national policy debates and in policy formulation aimed at sustaining the country’s benefit from mining activities. Otherwise the current and future contribution of mining to the local economy will remain distorted.
Can mining, sustainable development and mitigating effects of climate change be mutually inclusive? A reflection on South Africa’s situation
(Sam Tambani Research Institute, 2016) Kaggwa, Martin
Central to Sustainable Development (SD) is the improvement of people’s welfare in perpetuity SD is based on the understanding that development of any country depletes a country’s resources needed to sustain it Implementation of development initiatives often has unintended negatives developing over time such as climate change Achieving higher levels of economic growth is a necessarily but not sufficient condition for SD To achieve SD, natural-resource rich countries have to exploit these resources to trigger the required economic growth! Exploiting the natural resources is inherently non-sustainable
Carbon Tax
(National Union of Mineworkers, 2013-08-01) National Union of Mineworkers
Challenges Facing Women in the Mining, Energy and Construction Sectors of South Africa: Persisting barriers to equity in the workplace
(Sam Tambani Research Institute, 2019) Sam Tambani Research Institute
South African women account for more than half of the national population. Promotion of gender equality, advancing human rights, and socio-economic empowerment of women has remained one of the national priority areas, not only for South Africa but the world over. The participation of women in main stream economic activities is important to the socio-economic development of South Africa. They possess unique skills and talents which can be utilised in the labour market to provide families with more economic independence (World Bank, 2009). They ensure a basis for sustainable sources and control of income to the benefit of children or households (UNWOMEN, 2015). More participation of women in the mainstream economy will reduce poverty and unemployment. Productive employment provides access to resources via wages (DW, 2015). An increase in the number of working women in the economy means production capacity will increase, which will lead to an increase in economic growth, and reduction of poverty and unemployment (World Bank, 2009). Thus, an environment that enables women to effectively engage in the labour market is essential to address some of the various economic inequalities that exist between the genders.
Challenges Facing Women In The Mining, Energy And Construction Sectors: Survey Report (Highveld, North East And The Eastern Cape Regions)
(Sam Tambani Research Institute, 2015-07-28) Kaggwa, Martin
The Concept of a Just Transition is as Relevant to the Fourth Industrial Revolution as it is for the Move towards a Low Carbon Economy
(Sam Tambani Research Institute, 2020) Kaggwa, Martin; Sithole, Sinenhlanhla
Two parallel developments are taking place in Africa, that are of key significance to workers. The first one is the concerted effort to move the national economies from depending on fossil-based energy to a clean low-carbon energy. The second is the continents gradual embrace of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Organized labour has been active, in some countries like South Africa in engaging parties advocating for and implementing the transition to low-carbon economies to ensure that the interests of workers and communities are taken care of and are not sacrificed in the transition. Organized labour refers to the process of energy transition that takes into account the interests of workers and workers’ communities as ‘a just transition’. Regarding the 4IR, organized labour has not yet come up with a clear and consensus-based position on how to deal with the revolution. Organized labour’s position on 4IR can at best be described as a work in progress. Against this background, and in recognition of the need for organized labour to urgently engage with the 4IR phenomenon, this article makes the case that worker-related tenets of a just transition in the energy sector also apply to a migration to the 4IR economy. As such, organized labour should form a common position demanding a just transition to the 4IR. The proposal of what should constitute a just transition to the 4IR should mirror that of the just transition to a low-carbon economy as articulated in the International Labour Organisations (ILO’s) Decent Work Agenda. In particular it should include, social dialogue, social protection, rights at work and employment creation and protection.
Contextualising of Organised Labour’s Position on Carbon Tax in South Africa Using a Qualitative System Dynamics Model
(Sam Tambani Research Institute, 2016) Kaggwa, Martin
The South African government planned to introduce a carbon tax from 2013 as part of its efforts to reduce pollution levels emanating from domestic economic activities. The position of organised labour has, however, ranged from outright rejection to requests for a delay in implementation of the policy until employment safe-guards are put in place. Organised labour felt strongly that a carbon tax would have a negative impact on local employment. This paper examines the validity of organised labours’ concerns on possible job losses using a qualitative system dynamics approach. A case is made that despite being set at low levels, the carbon tax has potential to negatively affect competitiveness of firms in the long term. The potential job loss from the carbon tax will not necessarily be a result of increases in the immediate operational costs of firms, but rather from the loss of firms’ competitiveness in the long term. It is recommended that the implementation of the carbon tax be put on hold until safe-guards to local employment are put in place. One of the possible safeguards is to ensure that local manufacturers have access to low cost but clean production technologies that do not substitute the local labour force but rather supplement its productivity.
Contextualizing of Organized Labour Position on Carbon Tax in South Africa using a Qualitative System Dynamics Model
(Sam Tambani Research Institute, 2015-07) Kaggwa, Martin
South Africa (SA) Carbon Tax Policy (CTP): structure and arguments for and against The conventional one way causal model of SA’s Carbon Tax Policy SA Carbon Tax Policy as Qualitative System Dynamics (SD) Model Insights from SA’s CTP articulated as SD Model Conclusion and recommendations
Creating A Dividend Yielding Esop Model For Mine Workers
(Sam Tambani Research Institute, 2019) Sithole, Sinenhlanhla
Employee Share Ownership Plans (ESOPs) are an empowerment tool for workers and have been a common feature in South Africa’s mining industry policy since mining charter one of 2004. They serve the purpose of transformation by allowing employees to own shares in the mining companies which they work for. Despite notable efforts by mining companies in setting up ESOPs trusts for their employees, many ESOPs deals concluded in the mining industry have not yielded tangible dividends for employees. Many ESOPs that have been implemented have failed to meet stakeholders’ expectations in terms of dividend yields. ESOPS schemes have come across various criticisms, as they are considered “inconsistent, complicated and mostly opaque to employees whilst delivering modest returns to them,” (Diale 2016:7).
Dealing with Uncertainty: System Dynamics Approach for Modelling SA’s Response to COVID-19
(Sam Tambani Research Institute, 2020-08-20) Sam Tambani Research Institute; Kaggwa, Martin
Background to COVID-19 Modelling in SA  What is Systems Dynamics Modelling  Basics of Systems Dynamics Modelling  Why Systems Dynamic in modelling SA Response to Covid-19 ?
Demystifying 4IR for workers and how to approach the phenomenon
(Sam Tambani Research Institute, 2019-12-05) Kaggwa, Martin
What is 4IR?  Elements of 4IR and implications to the world of work  Employment and workeremployer dynamics under previous IRs  Opportunities and risks to workers of 4IR technologies  How should organised labour respond to 4IR
The effect of labour unrest in the mines on skills development and training
(National Union of Mineworkers, 2014) Montoedi, Tshimane
“Labour unrest in the mining sector does not have a direct effect on skills development and training” Rather “Lack of skills development and training has been a cause of labour unrest in the sector” It is important to get the direction of causality right
Energy Mix Choices And The Protection Of Workers’ Interests In South Africa
(Sam Tambani Research Institute, 2017-06) Sam Tambani Research Institute
In March 2011, the South African Government through the Department of Energy (DoE) published the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2010-30. The plan, according to DoE, was aimed at ensuring secure and sustainable provision of energy for socio- economic development of the country. Recommendations in the plan include diversifying power sources and broadening electricity supply technologies to include gas, nuclear, biomass and renewable energy resources (wind, solar and hydro), to meet the country’s future electricity needs. However, since the IRP release, a number of changes have taken place in the energy sectors, including changes pertaining demands and use of energy, hence the government has invited public comment and input to the IRP. The recent power shortages and subsequent load shedding experienced by the country, on one hand, and the increasing recognition of the climate change problem have brought home the fact that the South Africa requires a mix of all possible energy sources to meet its energy demand. Moreover, it has to do so while cutting down on its carbon dioxide emissions, emanating especially from coal burning power generation and whilst ensuring that the price of power remains affordable. Due to an increase in the consumption of electricity, which is expected to be twice the current levels by 2030, the country faces the challenge of establishing sustainable energy systems in the face of climate change (Kiratu, 2010). These pressures imply not only generating more electricity, but ensuring that energy efforts are steered towards a lower carbon future and underpinned by attention to issues of equity and justice. This discussion paper describes the current energy situation in South Africa, existing and emerging challenges and opportunities from labour perspective. It attempts to bring together available information on the current employment trends, health and safety implications, the costs and linkages to other sectors of different energy sources. The purpose of this paper is not to propose particular choices or solutions, but rather to make available to the National Union of Mineworkers some background information and analysis on the energy choices confronting South Africa and the possible effect to workers of specific choices. This paper’s information is drawn mainly from the presentations and discussions that took place at the NUM/SATRI Energy Symposium that took place in May 2017. Although the Symposium raised a very wide range of influences and pressures on energy choices, the paper maintains a focus on the more factual labour-focused issues underpinned by pursuing energy sources, not only for greater energy security and or environmental considerations, but also for the socio-economic development. The employment dimension of the energy sector is given ample attention.
ESOPs, What All Stake Holders Should Know
(Sam Tambani Research Institute, 2019) Sam Tambani Research Institute
 Introduction and Background  What are ESOPs  ESOPs and the Mining Charter  How ESOPs are Structured and Financed  What Workers should Expect  Brief Outline of SATRI Research
Exploring the Transformative Likelihood of Mine Community Development Programmes
(Sam Tambani Research Institute, 2018) Pulane Mafoea-Nkalai
The South African Mining Charter requires that mining houses include community development projects as part of their social labour plans. These community development projects are aimed at uplifting communities in and around the mines. However, very often mine communities do not benefit from mining developments. This article outlines the community development approach and framework as a conceptual and methodological tool for understanding what constitutes community development, especially in the context of mining. It argues that the principles of active participation, empowerment, and life-long learning are central to understanding community practices; these principles should inform any developmental interventions. If mine community development projects are to significantly benefit the local people, community projects should be well defined and distinguished from company-oriented projects (CSR). Local people should participate in the designing and monitoring of the success and impact of community development projects.
Job Losses In The Mining Industry Minerals And Petroleum Board
(National Union of Mineworkers, 2016) National Union of Mineworkers
A Just Transition for the 4IR: The way to go for Labour?
(Sam Tambani Research Institute, 2019) Kaggwa, Martin; Sithole, Sinenhlanhla
 For a long time labour has been engaged in the discussion of a Just Transition in the energy space  Recently labour has been engaged with the 4IR  As labour grapples with the Just Transition in energy, it also has to face the challenges posed by the 4IR
Making South Africa’s migration to Fourth Industrial Revolution just for workers: A lesson from the just energy transition framework to a low-carbon economy
(Sam Tambani Research Institute, 2019) Kaggwa Martin; Sithole Sinenhlanhla
Two parallel developments are taking place in Africa, that are of key significance to workers. The first one is the concerted effort to move the national economies from depending on fossil-based energy to a clean low-carbon energy. The second is the continents gradual embrace of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Organized labour has been active, in some countries like South Africa in engaging parties advocating for and implementing the transition to low-carbon economies to ensure that the interests of workers and communities are taken care of and are not sacrificed in the transition. Organized labour refers to the process of energy transition that takes into account the interests of workers and workers’ communities as ‘a just transition’. Regarding the 4IR, organized labour has not yet come up with a clear and consensus-based position on how to deal with the revolution. Organized labour’s position on 4IR can at best be described as a work in progress. Against this background, and in recognition of the need for organized labour to urgently engage with the 4IR phenomenon, this article makes the case that worker-related tenets of a just transition in the energy sector also apply to a migration to the 4IR economy. As such, organized labour should form a common position demanding a just transition to the 4IR. The proposal of what should constitute a just transition to the 4IR should mirror that of the just transition to a low-carbon economy as articulated in the International Labour Organisations (ILO’s) Decent Work Agenda. In particular it should include, social dialogue, social protection, rights at work and employment creation and protection.

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