Action Voices
Summary: A recent report on Transformation by the Chamber of Mines, available on their website, states that the mining sector has played a critical developmental role over the past 140 years, transforming South Africa into the most industrialised country in Africa. It notes mining as a major contributor to the economy with significant contributions to employment numbers, export earnings, attracting foreign direct investment, creating GDP and contributing to significant transformation in the economy.
Action Voices
Summary: The new mining charter is another most moderate document. It represents the push by a political and rich elite to win further gains for themselves but excludes any really changes for workers in the industry and communities who suffer the consequence of mining operation. It ignores important questions of environmental destruction.
Organising Communities, Engaging Mining Companies
Summary: Over the years Bench Marks has worked with communities in the platinum and coal mining areas and we have ongoing contact with activists who are part of the community monitors network. We asked ourselves “What can we learn from the experiences of these activists about the capacities needed by communities?”
Action Voices
Summary: The Bench Marks Foundation developed the concept of the Community Monitoring School because a vacuum of knowledge exists within communities when dealing with big corporations. The message of the Community Monitoring School is “nothing for us without us” and the 2013 school’s motto was “We are Watching You!”…
Organising Communities, Engaging Mining Companies
Summary: The foreward by the Rt. Reverend Dr. Jo Seoka sets the pace for this incisive issue which continus with monitor’s writing and community reports on happenings in various parts of the country includuding Ekurhuleni, Rustenburg, Vaal, Klerksdorp, Free State, Limpopo and Mpumalanga…
Action Voices
Summary: The issue opens with the customary foreward by the Rt. Reverend Dr. Jo Seoka and, thereafter, the remainder of this issue is devoted to monitor’s writing and community reports followed by an article on the use of social media and building networks. It closes with some insight into recent action research…
Rustenburg Community Report 2011
Summary: The Bench Marks Foundation has had a long relationship with the communities of Rustenburg. In 2007 we produced the first report (Policy Gap 1) where we reviewed the Corporate Social Responsibility of mining corporations operating in Rustenburg. In 2011 we produced our second study to review the changes since our first 2007 report….
Action Voices
Summary: This issue features a foreward by the Rt. Reverend Dr. Jo Seoka, an Introduction by BMF Executive Director John Capel, sections covering monitor’s writing, and community reports as well as 2 interesting articles on building the African community monitor’s network and using new media as an organizing tool…
Reponses to Covid 19 2021
The booklets are part of a series emanating from Benchmarks Foundation community monitors training programme.The program was oriented to respond to the challenges posed to coronavirus pandemic and the hash impact on communities living near mine.This was a one of the issues emerged strongly during the pandemic was that communities are struggling to put food on the table and monitors also highlighted the challenges, with food price sky rocketing ideas emerged from food bank, bulk groceries e.t.c and one that also stood strongly was growing own food because we believe growing food is like printing own money.
For More On Covid Responses
2.View and/or download the complete publication ( FINAL-FOOD-PRICING-BOOKLET #3 )
3. View and/or download the complete publication ( FINAL SCHOOLS BOOKLET #2 )
4. View and/or download the complete publication ( FINAL WOMEN BOOKLET #1 )
5.View and/or download the complete publication (Voices from the Communities NOVEMBER )
Sekhukhune Community Monitors Investigation into the waste Dumping Crisis
