ISD AcademyInstitute for Social Dialogue
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What this course is about

People affected by mining have a right to be consulted, to get information and to raise concerns. This course explains what meaningful consultation is, who speaks for a community, how to get information, and how to raise and escalate a concern through the proper channels.

Who it is for

Community members, ward committee members, traditional council members, civic and youth organisations, mine employees and contractors, and municipal officials who take part in consultation with mines.

What you will be able to do

  1. Explain what makes consultation meaningful under South African law.
  2. Identify who speaks for a community and how to make representation fair and inclusive.
  3. Use the right to information, including requests under PAIA and complaints to the Information Regulator.
  4. Raise a grievance and follow the escalation ladder in the right order.

Preview: the first two minutes

Module 1 · Introduction · 2 min

Thandi waits in a long, calm queue outside a small village clinic.

Animated scene (fictional, Pula village): a notice about a mine meeting is pinned at the clinic two days before the meeting, in English only. Thandi, a ward committee member, asks: "Is this consultation, or just an announcement?"

Modules

  1. Module 1 · 18 min

    Meaningful consultation

    Explain what makes consultation meaningful under South African law.

  2. Module 2 · 18 min

    Who speaks for the community

    Identify who speaks for a community and how to make representation fair and inclusive.

  3. Module 3 · 18 min

    The right to know

    Use the right to information, including PAIA requests and complaints to the Information Regulator.

  4. Module 4 · 18 min

    Grievances and escalation

    Raise a grievance and follow the escalation ladder in the right order.

Go deeper

Optional, outside the 72 minutes.

Sources

Having a Say: Consultation, Information and Accountability | ISD Academy