AMN - CSR must be part of daily mining operations - comment by Yolanda Torrisi

A seminar was held late last year in Johannesburg with the focus on how best to implement CSR strategies in mining to the benefit of all involved in the industry.

A panel comprising leading thinkers from the High Commission of Canada in South Africa, Eunomix and Norton Rose Fullbright focused on the topic of how to enhance, impact and improve the benefits of social investments for the mining industry and its stakeholders.

South Africa joins many other countries in its endeavours to define and implement appropriate CSR strategies.

Balancing the often competing needs of governments, local community, NGOs, employees and regulators and at the same time delivering return on shareholder investment, has become an act of large proportions.

These challenges provide a real need to create a space for having the CSR conversation. It is stakeholders who must define the objectives of CSR in the South African context.

It is recognised that mining cannot continue with the ‘business as usual’ approach and improving the outcomes of CSR is critical. Good CSR or social investment strategies cannot be an afterthought. CSR has to be at the centre of what every company does and not just a PR mission or an insertion in the annual company report.

The panel raised a number of views. A new form of stakeholder engagement is required, one that balances the demands of multiple groups. In South Africa, the situation is further complicated by industry’s need to recognise and address the nation’s turbulent past to achieve progress in trust building between stakeholders.

If mining companies can start aligning their investments with the underlying and long-term needs of their disparate stakeholders, and further explore the concept of shared value – demonstrating the interconnectedness of corporate competitiveness and community prosperity – they could earn not only the social licence to operate, but also the licence to grow.

Yolanda Torrisi is Chairperson of The African Mining Network and comments on African mining issues and the growing global interest in the African continent. Contact:yolanda@yolandatorrisi.com