Influence of stakeholder interactions on policy: The broad-based socio-economic empowerment charter for the South African Mining and Minerals Industry

Date
2021-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African mining industry is complex, due to its role as an essential growth sector of the economy, its importance as a key employment provider to hundreds of thousands of South Africans, along with its historical role regarding labour exploitation of black South Africans. Since the democratisation of South Africa, government policies have worked toward rectifying structural constraints, caused by apartheid laws, that have negatively impacted the socio-economic welfare of the majority of South Africans. The Broad-Based Socio-Economic Empowerment Charter for the South African Mining Industry-more commonly known as the Mining Charter is an industry-specific response to the above and has the principal aim of rectifying various inequalities found within the industry. This is ensured by setting compliance targets for mining companies. Over the years, these compliance targets have increased, in order to promote meaningful participation of Historically Disadvantaged South Africans (HDSAs) within the mining industry. These increases have often been met with criticism and at times have been contested, with stakeholders making use of legal proceedings and other channels to refute changes of the Mining Charter requirements. With this in mind, the purpose of this thesis is to understand the influence that key stakeholder interactions have had on the development of the Mining Charter over the years. To address the research focus, a qualitative approach was taken, along with the utilisation of the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) as an analytical tool for understanding stakeholder interactions. Furthermore, the research process consisted of semi-structured interviews and desktop research with the purpose of; contextualising the industry itself and the policies which allow for the Mining Charter to be enforced; discussing how key stakeholders make use of their resources to interact with one another; and the subsequent influence of their interactions on the development of the Mining Charter.The findings suggest that interactions between key stakeholders have influenced the development of the Mining Charter over the years. Moreover, stakeholders will vehemently advocate for a policy outcome that reflects how they would like the Mining Charter to function –which is often influenced by their position within the industry. This is not an ideal outcome for the development, or principal objective, of the Mining Charter. In the future, stakeholders will need to engage more effectively with one another and come to a consensus that will benefit all stakeholders, while ensuring that the policy outcome is sustainable in the long-run for the industry as a whole.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Suid-Afrikaanse mynbedryf is ingewikkeld vanweë sy rol as 'n noodsaaklike groeisektor van die ekonomie, en die belangrikheid daarvan as 'n belangrike diensverskaffer vir honderdduisende Suid-Afrikaners, tesame met sy historiese rol rakende arbeidsuitbuiting van swart Suid-Afrikaners. Sedert die demokratisering van Suid-Afrika, het regeringsbeleid gewerk om strukturele beperkings, wat deur apartheidswette veroorsaak is, reg te stel wat die sosio-ekonomiese welstand van die meerderheid Suid-Afrikaners negatief beïnvloed het. Die breë basis vir sosio-ekonomiese bemagtiging vir die Suid-Afrikaanse mynboubedryf -meer algemeen bekend as die Mynbouhandves, is 'n spesifieke reaksie op bogenoemde en het die hoofdoel om verskillende ongelykhede binne die bedryf reg te stel. Dit word verseker deur nakomingsdoelwitte vir mynmaatskappye op te stel. Deur die jare heen het hierdie nakomingsdoelwitte toegeneem om sinvolle deelname van historiese benadeelde Suid-Afrikaners (HDSA's) binne die mynbedryf te bevorder. Hierdie verhogings word gereeld met kritiek tegemoet gegaan en soms betwis. Belanghebbendes maak gebruik van regstappe en ander kanale om veranderinge aan die vereistes vir die mynbouhandves te weerlê. Met die oog hierop is die doel van hierdie proefskrif om die invloed te verstaan wat belangrike interaksie met belanghebbendes op die ontwikkeling van die Mynbouhandves deur die jare heen gehad het. Om die navorsingsfokus aan te spreek, is 'n kwalitatiewe benadering gevolg, tesame met die gebruik van die Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) as 'n analitiese instrument om interaksies met belanghebbendes te verstaan. Verder het die navorsingsproses bestaan uit semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude en lessenaarnavorsing met die doel om; om die bedryf self te kontekstualiseer en die beleidsrigtings wat dit moontlik maak om die Mynbouhandves toe te pas; bespreek hoe sleutelbelanghebbendes hul hulpbronne gebruik om met mekaar te kommunikeer; en die daaropvolgende invloed van hul interaksies op die ontwikkeling van die Mynbouhandves. Die bevindings dui daarop dat interaksies tussen belangrike belanghebbendes die ontwikkeling van die Mynbouhandves deur die jare heen beïnvloed het. Verder sal belanghebbendes heftig pleit vir 'n beleidsresultaat wat weerspieël hoe hulle wil hê dat die Mynbouhandves moet funksioneer -wat dikwels beïnvloed word deur hul posisie binne die bedryf. Dit is nie 'n ideale uitkoms vir die ontwikkeling of hoofdoelstelling van die Mynbouhandves nie. In die toekoms sal belanghebbendes meer effektief met mekaar moet skakel en tot 'n konsensus moet kom wat alle belanghebbendes sal bevoordeel, terwyl die beleidsuitslag op die langtermyn vir die bedryf as geheel volhoubaar is.
Description
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2021.
Keywords
Mining Charter, Employee empowerment -- South Africa, Mineral industries -- South Africa, Mineral industries -- Government policy -- South Africa, Business enterprises, Black -- South Africa, Discrimination in employment -- Government policy -- South Africa, Mineral industries -- South Africa, Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF), Broad-Based Socio-Economic Empowerment (BBSEE) Charter, Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), Historically disadvantaged South Africans (HDSA's), UCTD
Citation