In the mineral-rich hills of South Africa’s eastern Limpopo region, a new vision is emerging—one that aims to transform the legacy of mining from neglect and broken promises into a future of empowerment and sustainable development through renewable energy.
Despite the wealth beneath their feet, communities surrounding the 40 or so mines near Burgersfort in Sekhukhuneland—home to the Bapedi people—have seen little benefit. Local villages such as Manjekane, Ditwebeleng and Makgopa continue to suffer from staggering unemployment, a lack of basic infrastructure, and limited access to clean water and sanitation. While mining companies extract precious metals like platinum and chromium, the majority of residents remain locked out of the prosperity promised when operations first began over two decades ago.
Now, however, grassroots organisers are challenging this imbalance. The Sekhukhune Combined Mining Affected Communities (SCMAC), a community-based organisation, is leading efforts to push for more ambitious, community-driven solutions. They propose that mining-affected communities build and manage solar farms to generate their own electricity—both for immediate use and for sale back to the mines.
This bold proposal ties directly into the concept of a “just transition”—an approach that seeks to move away from fossil fuels while ensuring social equity and economic justice for the communities most affected by both extraction and climate change. For SCMAC and its allies, the shift to clean energy is not just about decarbonisation, but about reshaping power—literally and figuratively—around people, not profits.
The model would allow communities to take ownership of their own energy infrastructure. Profits from surplus power could fund desperately needed local services, such as paved roads, healthcare clinics, and expanded access to water. In practice, this would represent a radical improvement over the status quo of mining-linked community projects—commonly known as Social and Labour Plans (SLPs)—which often fail to deliver meaningful or lasting change.
In South Africa, SLPs are required when mining rights are granted, and they are meant to include commitments to improving community infrastructure and supporting economic development. However, research has shown that these plans are frequently developed without genuine community input and are poorly aligned with local needs. A study of three major mines in the Sekhukhune region found widespread non-compliance with SLP obligations, which has deepened local hardship rather than alleviating it.
At a recent community meeting in Morapaneng—one of the 387 villages in the Fetakgomo-Tubatse Local Municipality—SCMAC presented the findings of a feasibility study into the social ownership of solar energy. Residents gathered under a large tent behind a local nursery to hear about the proposal and share their views. Many responded with enthusiasm, offering their own experiences with solar power and the impact of nearby mining operations.
Key themes emerged from the discussion, including a desire to use proceeds from solar power to upgrade infrastructure, improve healthcare access, and restore dignity to communities long left behind. Attendees were also deeply engaged with the idea of free basic electricity, which remains difficult to access despite being an essential service.
This vision goes far beyond the typical initiatives included in SLPs. Inspired by successful community energy schemes in places like Brazil, Puerto Rico, and Indonesia, SCMAC’s proposal underscores that a just energy transition must also be a just social transition. The goal isn’t merely replacing coal with solar panels; it’s ensuring that the new energy economy uplifts and empowers those who have borne the brunt of South Africa’s extractive past.
As the rain began to fall over the dusty hills of Sekhukhune that evening, the community’s message remained clear: real development means putting people first. The transition to renewable energy must include them—not as an afterthought, but as co-owners and architects of their future.
