Diamond mining South Africa is not currently socially sustainably. For instance the mineral revolution of diamonds has changed social impacts and interactions. This change happens because of the very long working hours that the labourers get when they take a job at the mine. The hours are irregular and long, even up to 14 hours per day and disrupt the normal ‘social rhythms.’ This change is not socially sustainable. Another reason why mining is not socially sustainable is because people who work in the mines have poor health and safety systems and there are even some deaths caused by this. Furthermore South African mining is not socially sustainable due to a sudden influx and change of money into the South African communities, which have shown to create social tensions and increased amounts of abuse and family violence due to arguments. This is not socially sustainable for the future. Another reason why diamond mining is not socially sustainable is because of a lack of steadfast laws and regulations on some South African mining companies. This is as the lack of rules allows companies to reduce and change costs like security and labour. This is not socially sustainable as less security and wages for miners are good for the profit of the company but horrible for the people working at the company as they get less money for their hard work to pay for very important necessities. Furthermore South Africa is not socially sustainable for diamond mining because of child labour. This is and unsustainable impact of diamond mining because according to statistics from the International Labour Organisation around 2,000 children work in mines in South Africa, and their numbers are increasing. I therefore think that mining in the South African environment is currently not socially sustainable.
The hours are irregular and long, even up to 14 hours per day
Although diamonds mining in South Africa is not currently socially sustainable some things are being done to try and make it sustainable. Some things that are being done to minimise the impact of mining on the cultural environment is a South African law that states that, “It is a criminal offence to employ a child under the age of 15, unless you have a permit from the Department of Labour. It is also illegal to employ a child from the age of 15 – 18 if the work is inappropriate or puts them at risk.” This is minimising the impact on the society as there are consequences for not following the law, and this law means that the mining companies must not hire children or any young adults if harm is going to come to them. Another thing that is being done to minimise the impact that diamond mining has on the South African cultural environment is that the De Beers diamond industry has set up a program where men who have come from other states who are often very tired from their journey are given at least 2 weeks rest at the expense of the De Beers. These two things that the diamond mining industry has done will help the South African cultural environment to be a little bit more socially sustainable into the future.
Although the diamond mining industry have done a few things to help social sustainability there is still many more things that they can do to further minimise the impacts in the future. To fix the increased violence made by long irregular hours, the mine could make more stable contracts that fully specify hours that the laborers can work at so that their jobs are more stable. This is socially sustainable, as since their jobs will be more stable the amount of family violence and abuse due to irregular hours will decrease. To fix the deaths caused by lack of equipment and poor health and safety systems, they De Beers industry could spend a little more money to invest into some more safety equipment for the more deadly jobs, while also investing money into new ideas for safety systems. This is socially sustainable because a lot less people will be injured or killed while working. I think that there needs to be a policy on how much the mine can pay the workers and there should be a minimal amount that the workers should get that is enough to sustain them in their daily lives. This is more socially sustainable because it allows the people to be able to live off the money that they are paid and to be in a little bit less of a difficult position and they will be able to but more of their necessities. I also think that trying to locate and shut down the illegal mines in South Africa should be a higher priority. This will improve socially sustainable and minimise impacts as hundreds of miners in Angola will be safer and have a more stable job, they will also get more pay and decent working condition. I think that if the South African diamond industry can follow these ideas. If they did then the impact of the diamond industry on South African socially sustainability would definitely be minimalized and more sustainable for the future.
Although the diamond mining industry have done a few things to help social sustainability there is still many more things that they can do to further minimise the impacts in the future. To fix the increased violence made by long irregular hours, the mine could make more stable contracts that fully specify hours that the laborers can work at so that their jobs are more stable. This is socially sustainable, as since their jobs will be more stable the amount of family violence and abuse due to irregular hours will decrease. To fix the deaths caused by lack of equipment and poor health and safety systems, they De Beers industry could spend a little more money to invest into some more safety equipment for the more deadly jobs, while also investing money into new ideas for safety systems. This is socially sustainable because a lot less people will be injured or killed while working. I think that there needs to be a policy on how much the mine can pay the workers and there should be a minimal amount that the workers should get that is enough to sustain them in their daily lives. This is more socially sustainable because it allows the people to be able to live off the money that they are paid and to be in a little bit less of a difficult position and they will be able to but more of their necessities. I also think that trying to locate and shut down the illegal mines in South Africa should be a higher priority. This will improve socially sustainable and minimise impacts as hundreds of miners in Angola will be safer and have a more stable job, they will also get more pay and decent working condition. I think that if the South African diamond industry can follow these ideas. If they did then the impact of the diamond industry on South African socially sustainability would definitely be minimalized and more sustainable for the future.