Thousands of poor people in Limpopo province, South Africa, have lost their farmland and access to clean water as a result of mining by Anglo Platinum. 

ActionAid’s new report 'Precious Metal' estimates that many thousands of poor people in rural areas have lost agricultural land – their main means of survival – due to mining activities by Anglo Platinum.

The result is not just increased hunger and poverty; it is also the destruction of a whole way of life.

"We are in a very serious position. We don’t eat or drink because of the mine. Ever since they came here, they said they’d do everything for us. But they’ve taken our land, we’re no longer ploughing, we’re confronted by starvation." Betty Mpela, a villager from Ga-Puka, aged 70.

Communities in Limpopo province are suffering increased hunger and poverty whilst the company reaps record profits.

Last year Anglo Platinum, majority owned by mining giant Anglo American, made headline earnings of approximately US$1.75bn, but spent less than 1% of its profits on community development.

The report found that:

• Whole communities have lost access to clean water and some villagers have had their water supplies cut off altogether.
  
• Independent water tests, commissioned by ActionAid, show that samples taken from water sources near Anglo Platinum’s PPL mine were unfit for human consumption due to contamination, raising serious health concerns.
• Villagers who have been removed from their homes to make way for the mining lack even adequate basic services.
• Many communities are subjected to constant intrusive mining activities, especially blasting, which is damaging to their home and their environment.
• Community protests to challenge Anglo Platinum’s land take-overs have often been met with brutality by the police and legal action by the company

"We don’t know how they acquired it, who talked to, how much they paid." Community spokesperson Emmanuel Makgoga discussing Anglo Platt’s assertion that it has the right to use a local piece of farmland.

ActionAid is pressing the South African government to urgently address these findings, conduct an investigation and reject proposed amendments to the mining act that would substantially weaken environmental and social safeguards.

"We need action in South Africa and also at the United Nations, to ensure multinationals like Anglo Platinum are held to account on human rights issues," said Alex Wijeratna, ActionAid corporate campaigner.

Download the report:

• Precious Metal: The impact of Anglo Platinum on poor communities in Limpopo, South Africa [pdf]