Democracy, development and chieftaincy along South Africa's 'Platinum Highway': some emerging issues

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Periodical article

Title:	Democracy, development and chieftaincy along South Africa's 'Platinum Highway': some emerging issues
Author:	Mnwana, Sonwabile
Year:	2015
Periodical:	Journal of Contemporary African Studies (ISSN 1469-9397)
Volume:	33
Issue:	4
Pages:	510-529
Language:	English
Geographic term:	South Africa
Subjects:	traditional rulers natural resources platinum mining community development local government
External link:	https://doi.org/10.1080/02589001.2015.1117730
Abstract:	South Africa's 'Platinum Highway' (generally referred to as 'the platinum belt', a 150 km continuation of platinum group metals (PGM)-bearing reefs) has ushered in a new era of considerable accumulation of mineral revenues by a few traditional authorities on whose communal lands platinum ore is extracted. The Royal Bafokeng community in the North West province stands as an epitome of this phenomenon. However, not much is known about the relationships at local governance level, particularly the interface of mineral wealth and community development. Adopting the Bafokeng community as an empirical case in this article, the author argues that, despite some observed benefits, vast mineral wealth is likely to deepen tensions between local power holders within the sphere of rural local governance, thus paradoxically hampering development, particularly in a context where traditional authorities are the architects and champions of resource-engendered community development. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]