African coal mining communities?

Question

I'm working on a novel, part of which is set in an African coal mining community. My research so far suggests that most mines are actually owned by the Chinese, but apart from that, I can't find much in the way of detail. What I'm interested in is primarily the geography, politics and working conditions- where are the mines, do the workers hate the management, are they rife with the abuse of human rights? Any help you can give will be appreciated.

Answer 1

Inter Press Service | 16 June 2008

AFRICA: Concerns over Chinese Investment and Working Conditions

Muyakwa is also worried about Chinese working conditions: ‘‘Last year, operations at a Chinese-owned coal mine in the south of Zambia were suspended due to unsafe working conditions. Most labourers were half naked and didn’t have protective clothing, dust masks, hard hats or shoes.’’

‘‘When a cabinet minister attempted to visit to the mine, Chinese managers prevented her from doing so. They said it was ‘their mine’. In the end the minister was given a tour. According to the minister’s report, the labourers were treated like animals. The mine was closed for a short while but then opened again.’’

Answer 2

There are coal mines in Newcastle, South Africa, and Botswana  has such large reserves of coal it is open cast mining, i.e, on the surface,not below ground.  There is also a lot of coal in Wankie, Zimbabwe, but who knows what is happening to the mines there.  Africa has more copper, gold and diamond mines than coal, so perhaps you need to do some more research.  Whatever, I hope your book is a success.

I do not know about elsewhere, but in South Africa the miners are looked after very well, with excellent working conditions, food and health programmes;  the only downside is that many of the miners come from other parts of Africa and they live in hostels, so there are often faction (tribal) fights breaking out as you can imagine when a lot of men live together without women - the local men do not like the foreigners taking out local women etc.