THE PSYCHOSOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE CLOSING OF A MINE FOR WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

Authors

  • Herman Strydom Social Work Division, School for Psychosocial Behavioural Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom; Subject group social work, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
  • Alida Herbst Social Work Division, School for Psychosocial Behavioural Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom; Subject group social work, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, South Africa.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15270/44-2-249

Abstract

This article arose from a project which was launched on behalf of the Labour Union Solidarity
after the interim liquidation and immediate closing of the Durban Roodepoort Deep (DRD) Gold
Mine at Stilfontein. This mining community was also traumatized by an earthquake shortly
before the closing of the mine. The process commenced on 27 April 2005, when a contract was
drawn up with Solidarity’s Helping Hand Fund to do a psychosocial situation analysis among
the community. Based on the results of the psychosocial situation analysis, a project plan was
submitted to Solidarity, after which a formal agreement was reached between the two parties and
a meeting with the representatives of the labour union was held. Following this, the plan of
action was proposed, the facilitators trained and the programme implemented. The data of the
psychosocial situation analysis, the contents and course of the group sessions as well as the
results that ensued from the questionnaire that was filled in by the women during the women’s
day as well as certain strengths present in the community are discussed. This is followed by an
integrated discussion of the investigation. A number of recommendations are also made for the
future.

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Published

2014-06-20

How to Cite

Strydom, H., & Herbst, A. (2014). THE PSYCHOSOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE CLOSING OF A MINE FOR WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 44(2). https://doi.org/10.15270/44-2-249

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