No Last Place to Rest

95 pages. Temps de lecture estimé 1h11min.
This book examines the impact of coal mining on the lives of former-labour tenant and rural communities in post-apartheid South Africa.No Last Place to Rest: Coal Mining and Dispossession in South Africa is an exploration of the ongoing struggles faced by families in the Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa whose lives have been upended by the relentless expansion of coal mining operations. These regions, burdened with the task of fulfilling the nation's energy needs and boosting the country’s economy, witness daily the harsh realities of dispossession that extend far beyond the mere loss of property. Dineo Skosana presents a compelling argument that dispossession remains a present-day reality and crisis. She challenges the narrow perspective that equates land loss in material and economic terms only. Skosana considers the impact of grave relocations—a common occurrence in these mining-dominated locales— and the profound spiritual anguish and dehumanisation communities endure as their lands are excavated. This book offers a rich ethnographic account of the experiences, struggles and resistance of the affected communities as well as a critical analysis of the legal and policy frameworks that enable their exploitation. In relation to the ‘land question’ in South Africa, No Last Place to Rest presents deep insights for communities, activists and government sectors acting in support of social justice and redress.List of Illustrations Acknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction: Coal Extraction and Dispossession in Post-Apartheid South Africa Chapter 1 South Africa's Market-Driven Mineral Law: Privatisation and Exclusion Chapter 2 Coal Mining and Displacement at Glencore Mine in Mpumalanga Chapter 3 Rural Communities and Displacement at Tendele Coal Mine in Somkhele, KwaZulu-Natal Chapter 4 Leave Coal in the Pit: Resistance and the Struggle for Land Rights in Somkhele, KwaZulu-Natal Chapter 5 Grave Relocations at Glencore Coal Mine in Tweefontein, Mpumalanga Chapter 6 Desecration of Graves at Tendele Coal Mine in Somkhele, KwaZulu-Natal Chapter 7 Lawful Exclusion: Dispossessing Communities Under Reformed Laws Conclusion: Land, Loss and Belonging Notes References Index