Table of Contents

Part I

1. The background to the Postmasburg study

2. The literature on mining communities and mining growth and decline

3. Migration and mine labour in South Africa

Part II: Governance, planning, the environment and power

4. The Tsassamba Committee

5. Spatial planning for Postmasburg

6. Government, mining and community relations

7. Mining and municipal finance

8. Environmental legislation, mining and ecosystems

Part III: To own or to rent?

9. Mineworker housing

10. The Khumani approach to homeownership in Postmasburg

IV: Working and doing business

11. Work, wages and welfare in Postmasburg

12. Psychological well-being on the mine

13. Businesses in Postmasburg: Tshipe e lokile (‘iron is good’) – but what about business?

Part V: Conclusion

14. The way forward for Postmasburg

About the Author

Lochner Marais is Professor in Development Studies at the Centre for Development Support, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Philippe Burger is Professor and Head of the Department of Economics at the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Deidre van Rooyen is currently the Programme Director for Development Studies and a researcher in the Centre for Development Support at the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.