Opportunities and challenges in Small-scale Mining (SSM) in Free State Province

Abstract

The small-scale mining (SSM) sector in South Africa thus has accelerated since democracy as the mining sector opened up to more people. It has become an opportunity for livelihood strategies in ways that were not possible in the past. This has led to the development of the sector in new ways. The growth of what is often referred to as “informal” artisanal mining activities has grown. In addition more women and youth are involved or aspire to participate in the sector as small-scale operators. These developments have resulted in looking at the status quo of the SSM sector as a catalyst for changing the local economic landscape.