Black Gold

Mpumalanga has been ravaged, and largely repossessed by substantial coal-fired power stations that have prioritised profits over the livelihood of its people and environment.  Residents of Mpumalanga have been forced to surrender their coal-rich native lands to make way for large corporations. In turn, they have been placed in informal settlements surrounded by toxic mine dumps often without access to water nor electricity. The majority of residents depend on coal for heating and cooking.  From a poverty-stricken population, arose a determined workforce of mostly young men who have decided to reclaim part of the riches by occupying old, run-down and abandoned coal mines which is no easy or safe task.  Abandoned coal mines, toxic water sources, underground coal mine fires, toxic soil, high-level corruption, theft of land, destruction of land, disregard for culture and of its people only scrape the surface of the environmental and humanitarian crisis caused by large mining companies. These large mining companies have been the recipient of political favours in exchange for large sums of money to the detriment of Mpumalanga’s residents.  Informal miner Bonginkosi Mhlanga spends the night underground after skidding down 82 steps and making his way through a narrow tunnel. Bonginkosi reached a black vein in the rock some two meters wide where he would remain overnight breaking off and collecting coal, rarely allowing himself to withdraw from labour. Bonginkosi amongst other men scrape a living by chipping away at abandoned mine shafts previously exploited by mining conglomerates. Having worked throughout the day, night and the next morning, Mhlanga made 250 Rands (17$) and will return after a day of resting.                                                                             

* Project selected by the Canon student development Programme 2021.