Sand mining governance in post-apartheid South Africa: Interlegalities of resource extraction on the Wild Coast

Abstract

This viewpoint explores the challenge of the intersection of demand for sand, concerns over its exploitation and its governance in South Africa. Mainly drawing on secondary literature review and direct observations, we highlight the irony of the concern about the environmental cost of sand mining, in the midst of poor sand mining governance. The viewpoint argues that the problem in the Wild Coast is the multiple jurisdictions of sand mining governance, ranging from national, provincial and local government legislation, policies and practices, that combine and create confusion. We call for stronger governance locally, and at other scales, including opening up legal mining opportunities, especially in light of current unauthorized sand mining taking place.