Unearthed

ELASA Monthly Meeting, April 2026

Please join us online for this presentation by Dr Tina Kotzé, (Senior Lecturer at Stadio Higher Education) on a presentation about: Personal servitudes are not transferable: Now what for renewable energy projects? on 7 April 2026.

Written Submissions on the Draft Mineral Resources Development Bill, 2025. (GN 6210 of Government Gazette, No. 52704 of 20 May 2025

Investigating the Energy Transition’s Job Creation Promise in Coal-Producing Countries: South African case study

Ruvarashe Makonese

Mineral Law in Africa Colloquium VIIII, 2025

Mineral Law in Africa Colloquium VIIII Venue: Atlantic-Villa Boutique Hotel Swakopmund, Namibia 12–14 November 2025.

Green Hydrogen Projects have Started in Africa – But what is Green Hydrogen, and will Africa Largely Benefit from the Production?

Ruvarashe Makonese

Call for Applications: Postgraduate Research Scholarships – Mineral Law in Africa, 2026

Postgraduate Research Scholarships in Mineral Law in Africa: The SARChI Research Chair: Mineral Law in Africa (MLiA) at UCT are offering one full-time PhD scholarship, and one full-time LLM (Research) scholarship for 2026.

Generated Media:The President of Liberia, HE Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, discussed 'The Challenges of Post-war Reconstruction: The Liberian Experience' on 13 June 2011. Wikimedia Commons: Available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HE_Ellen_Johnson_Sirleaf_(6011337236).jpg (Creative Commons Licence 2.0). Credit: Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, Gauteng, on 13 May 2008. Wikimedia Commons: Available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nelson_Mandela-2008_(edit).jpg (Creative Commons Licence 2.0).

Resource Governance begins with Inner Worth: Leadership in Africa’s New Extractive Era

Hanri Mostert

Beyond Combustion: Turning Fossil Fuel Infrastructure into Climate Solutions through a “Dual Approach”?

Mpho Sehlabo

What is the Green Energy Transition? Understanding the Shift Towards a Sustainable Future

Mpho Sehlabo

The Royalty Regime Change In South Africa’s Mining Sector: An analysis of Richards Bay Mining (Pty) Ltd v Commissioner of SARS

Masande Qumba

Does the New Expropriation Act 13 of 2024 address Historical Inequalities and Promote Access to Land?

Masande Qumba

How does South Africa’s Mine Health and Safety Regulatory Instruments fare as an enabler in the promotion of training of mineworkers on Mine Health and Safety?

How does South Africa’s Mine Health and Safety Regulatory Instrument fare as an enabler in the promotion of training of mineworkers on Mine Health and Safety?

Didintle Molefe

Draft Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Bill: The Introduction of Artisanal Mining Regulation

Draft Mineral Resources Development Bill: The Introduction of Artisanal Mining Regulation

Didintle Molefe

How does South Africa’s Mine Health and Safety Regulatory Instrument Fare in Managing Risks Associated with Mining

Didintle Molefe

Understanding Sovereign Wealth Funds: How Oversight Committees Ensure Accountability?

Didintle Molefe

Artificial Intelligence in Mining: Balancing Mineworkers’ Safety and Their Right to Privacy

Ruvarashe Makonese

Gender-Based Violence in the Mining: Women’s Month Should be a Call to Action for Change

Due to the generally dismissive attitude towards GBVH, women’s Month presents an opportunity for the government, corporations, and political parties to boast of their social activism to gain favour and support from the public.

Acknowledging Mining’s Unsung Heroes: Practical steps for Mining Companies and Governments to Achieve a Just Artificial Intelligence Transition

Picture a world where mining companies enjoy reduced operations costs, increased efficiency, and continuous productivity while enhancing workers' health and safety. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can bring about this reality.

Mine workers often face very dangerous working conditions.

The Rise in Class Action Lawsuits against Mining ‘Powerhouses’ in South Africa

South African mining companies continue to neglect the health and safety of mineworkers. Might class-action lawsuits provide justice and better working conditions?

Event Review Mining Indaba 2024: Are Young Academics Included?

The Mining Indaba must be careful not to further perpetuate the harmful and exclusionary industry narratives and ensure that young people are also given a seat at the table.

Financial and Fiscal Incentives Applicable to South Africa’s Renewable Energy Sector: A Balancing Act

One way in which the State can achieve such ends is by convincing investors to move away from conventional extractive practices and shift towards renewable forms of energy.

Critical Infrastructure and Strategic Project Protection: Who Must Protect South Africa’s Mines?

South Africa’s mining sector is the backbone of its economy. As the fifth largest in the world, it employs hundreds of thousands of people and generates billions in tax revenues.

Space Mining Trends Forecast African Strategic Partnerships

The act of mining is already burdensome on earth. Mining risks more than tenfold in space. Mining in outer space is thus something that can only be considered for nations already comfortably able to explore outer space.

Space Mining & Africa: will they, or won’t they?

Outer space: the final frontier. That exciting neighbourhood just beyond the earth’s reach where wishes upon stars live (although if you would like to be more technical about it

COVID-19 AND MINING REFLECTIONS ON A PANDEMIC

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mining sector and host communities can only be characterised as far-reaching and devastating.

Part III: An analysis of the Detrimental Effect of the Expropriation of Surface (land) Rights

The expropriation of subsurface land rights as it relates to the petroleum industry may be instrumental in transforming the industry by eliminating neo-colonialism and the influences of apartheid.

Part II: The Expropriation of Subsurface Rights in the Oil and Gas industry as a Tool for Radical Socio-economic development

As discussed in part I of this blog, the effects of imperialism and colonialism are still prevalent in the African oil and gas industry.

Part I: Making the case for expropriation in the Context of Rights to Surface and Subsurface Use in the Petroleum Industry

Unethical practices by Transnational Oil Companies (TOCs) have had a detrimental impact on the socioeconomic and environmental development of resource-rich countries, which are usually developing, poverty-stricken states.

THINKING STRATEGICALLY ABOUT STRATEGIC MINERALS (Or: The “Justice” approach Africa needs to get ahead of the Just Energy Transition Curve)

The old saying “if it cannot be grown, it must be mined” poi

Accelerated Capital Expenditure Allowances: Does it Apply to Contract Miners?

South Africa’s mining sector has several unique features necessitating favourable tax treatment to attract investment. For instance, such features include the finite nature of resources, commodity price fluctuations, excessive capital outlay requ

Sustainable Innovation in Mine Site Rehabilitation

Innovative solutions could allow a pivot away from degraded and abandoned land. Like many nations worldwide, South Africa is grappling with an issue of abandoned m

Corporate Social Responsibility: The Role of Extractive Corporations in Poverty Alleviation

As many as 30.4 million people are estimated to live below the upper-bound poverty line of R1 417 per month, while 13.8 million people are estimated to live below the food

Automation, Digitalisation & Mine Workers in a Just Energy Transition

In a coal mining-dependent state like South Africa, questions such as what protections can create sectoral resilience amidst the

Event Review: Towards Resilient Futures DST/NRF Community of Practice II: Use of Fibre-rich Biomass in the Remediation of Degraded Land

The theme of February’s dynamic Towards Resilient Futures DST/NRF Community of Practice II (‘COP’) Workshop Number 4 event, was focused on “Using a Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Explore Opportunities for Economic Diversificatio

Design of Namibia’s Fiscal Legal Framework to Collect and Manage Revenues from Oil Discoveries in the Orange Basin

Namibia’s recent oil discoveries in the Orange Basin (the “project”) are estimated to generate about R443 billion in investment and R53 billion in revenues from taxes and royalties annually for the government. This poses the ques

Renewables & Rethinking Energy in South Africa: A Three-Part Series - Part 3: Funding the Present & Future of Energy Supply

The framework has been created for renewable independent power producers to begin generating electricity in South Africa.

Transition from Coal to Renewables: Is South Africa Ready?

In his open letter to the public on 26 April 2021, President Cyril Ramaphosa pointed out that it was time to act urgently to counter the effects of climate change and that his government had plans to introduce measures for that purpose. Climate change

Renewables & Rethinking Energy in South Africa: A Three-Part Series - Part 2: Bright or Dim Future in Policy?

South Africans have never been more inspired to consider the role of electricity in their daily lives, and more concerned about Eskom’s failure to ensure consistent electricity supply for all.

Renewables & Rethinking Energy in South Africa: A Three-Part Series - Part 1: Green Future as an Aid to South Africa’s A Dark Reality

Since the COVID-19 national lockdowns have ended and restrictions have all but completely eased, businesses have begun picking up where they left off, people are back in offices, and the world is essentially in full swing again. South Africa, however,

Key considerations of the National Development Plan to influence the extractive policy

South Africa is infamously known for being the most unequal nation in the world. Owing to the country’s history of racial segregation and economic challenges, there are limited employment opportunities and “key productive assets&r

ELASA Monthly Meeting, April 2026

Written Submissions on the Draft Mineral Resources Development Bill, 2025. (GN 6210 of Government Gazette, No. 52704 of 20 May 2025

Investigating the Energy Transition’s Job Creation Promise in Coal-Producing Countries: South African case study

Ruvarashe Makonese

Mineral Law in Africa Colloquium VIIII, 2025

Mineral Law in Africa Colloquium VIIII Venue: Atlantic-Villa Boutique Hotel Swakopmund, Namibia 12–14 November 2025.

Green Hydrogen Projects have Started in Africa – But what is Green Hydrogen, and will Africa Largely Benefit from the Production?

Ruvarashe Makonese

Call for Applications: Postgraduate Research Scholarships – Mineral Law in Africa, 2026

Resource Governance begins with Inner Worth: Leadership in Africa’s New Extractive Era

Hanri Mostert

Beyond Combustion: Turning Fossil Fuel Infrastructure into Climate Solutions through a “Dual Approach”?

Mpho Sehlabo

What is the Green Energy Transition? Understanding the Shift Towards a Sustainable Future

Mpho Sehlabo

The Royalty Regime Change In South Africa’s Mining Sector: An analysis of Richards Bay Mining (Pty) Ltd v Commissioner of SARS

Masande Qumba

Does the New Expropriation Act 13 of 2024 address Historical Inequalities and Promote Access to Land?

Masande Qumba

How does South Africa’s Mine Health and Safety Regulatory Instrument fare as an enabler in the promotion of training of mineworkers on Mine Health and Safety?

Didintle Molefe

Draft Mineral Resources Development Bill: The Introduction of Artisanal Mining Regulation

Didintle Molefe

How does South Africa’s Mine Health and Safety Regulatory Instrument Fare in Managing Risks Associated with Mining

Didintle Molefe

Understanding Sovereign Wealth Funds: How Oversight Committees Ensure Accountability?

Didintle Molefe

Artificial Intelligence in Mining: Balancing Mineworkers’ Safety and Their Right to Privacy

Ruvarashe Makonese

Gender-Based Violence in the Mining: Women’s Month Should be a Call to Action for Change

Acknowledging Mining’s Unsung Heroes: Practical steps for Mining Companies and Governments to Achieve a Just Artificial Intelligence Transition

The Rise in Class Action Lawsuits against Mining ‘Powerhouses’ in South Africa

South African mining companies continue to neglect the health and safety of mineworkers. Might class-action lawsuits provide justice and better working conditions?

Event Review Mining Indaba 2024: Are Young Academics Included?

The Mining Indaba must be careful not to further perpetuate the harmful and exclusionary industry narratives and ensure that young people are also given a seat at the table.

Financial and Fiscal Incentives Applicable to South Africa’s Renewable Energy Sector: A Balancing Act

One way in which the State can achieve such ends is by convincing investors to move away from conventional extractive practices and shift towards renewable forms of energy.

Critical Infrastructure and Strategic Project Protection: Who Must Protect South Africa’s Mines?

South Africa’s mining sector is the backbone of its economy. As the fifth largest in the world, it employs hundreds of thousands of people and generates billions in tax revenues.

Space Mining Trends Forecast African Strategic Partnerships

Space Mining & Africa: will they, or won’t they?

Outer space: the final frontier. That exciting neighbourhood just beyond the earth’s reach where wishes upon stars live (although if you would like to be more technical about it

COVID-19 AND MINING REFLECTIONS ON A PANDEMIC

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mining sector and host communities can only be characterised as far-reaching and devastating.

Part III: An analysis of the Detrimental Effect of the Expropriation of Surface (land) Rights

The expropriation of subsurface land rights as it relates to the petroleum industry may be instrumental in transforming the industry by eliminating neo-colonialism and the influences of apartheid.

Part II: The Expropriation of Subsurface Rights in the Oil and Gas industry as a Tool for Radical Socio-economic development

As discussed in part I of this blog, the effects of imperialism and colonialism are still prevalent in the African oil and gas industry.

Part I: Making the case for expropriation in the Context of Rights to Surface and Subsurface Use in the Petroleum Industry

THINKING STRATEGICALLY ABOUT STRATEGIC MINERALS (Or: The “Justice” approach Africa needs to get ahead of the Just Energy Transition Curve)

The old saying “if it cannot be grown, it must be mined” poi

Accelerated Capital Expenditure Allowances: Does it Apply to Contract Miners?

Sustainable Innovation in Mine Site Rehabilitation

Innovative solutions could allow a pivot away from degraded and abandoned land. Like many nations worldwide, South Africa is grappling with an issue of abandoned m

Corporate Social Responsibility: The Role of Extractive Corporations in Poverty Alleviation

As many as 30.4 million people are estimated to live below the upper-bound poverty line of R1 417 per month, while 13.8 million people are estimated to live below the food

Automation, Digitalisation & Mine Workers in a Just Energy Transition

In a coal mining-dependent state like South Africa, questions such as what protections can create sectoral resilience amidst the

Event Review: Towards Resilient Futures DST/NRF Community of Practice II: Use of Fibre-rich Biomass in the Remediation of Degraded Land

Design of Namibia’s Fiscal Legal Framework to Collect and Manage Revenues from Oil Discoveries in the Orange Basin

Renewables & Rethinking Energy in South Africa: A Three-Part Series - Part 3: Funding the Present & Future of Energy Supply

The framework has been created for renewable independent power producers to begin generating electricity in South Africa.

Transition from Coal to Renewables: Is South Africa Ready?

Renewables & Rethinking Energy in South Africa: A Three-Part Series - Part 2: Bright or Dim Future in Policy?

South Africans have never been more inspired to consider the role of electricity in their daily lives, and more concerned about Eskom’s failure to ensure consistent electricity supply for all.