Terwin, Jennifer Edith (2005-04)
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is based on a survey conducted by the Bureau for Economic Research (BER) on “The impact of HIV/AIDS on Selected Business Sectors in South Africa- 2004”. This report strives to highlight how and to what extent HIV/AIDS has affected the mining sector in South Africa, as well as to assess this sector’s awareness and response to the epidemic. A questionnaire was sent to 977 operating mines, quarries and mineral processing plants. A response rate of 10.8% was achieved. The survey shows that the impact of HIV/AIDS on the mining sector has been severe. The survey results reveal that many mines are already facing the consequences of the epidemic. Almost half of the large mines surveyed indicated that HIV/AIDS has already had a significant adverse impact on their operations while 75% of these mines and roughly 50% of both the small and medium sized mines envisage a significant negative impact in five year’s time. It appears as though the impact has been more noticeable on the production side. The majority of the participating mines indicated that the epidemic has also led to higher labour turnover rates, lost experience and skills and higher recruitment and training costs. With regard to profits, 62% of the mines surveyed reported that the epidemic has had an adverse impact on the bottom line. The survey also shows that the mines lead the way in the response to the implementation of HIV/AIDS policies and programmes. However, smaller mining operations are still lacking in their response to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programmes.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie is gebaseer op ’n opname deur die Buro vir Ekonomiese Ondersoek (BEO), ‘Die impak van MIV/VIGS op geselekteerde besigheidsektore in Suid-Afrika – 2004’. Hierdie verslag ondersoek hoé en tot watter mate MIV/VIGS die Suid-Afrikaanse mynbousektor beïnvloed, asook die sektor se bewustheid van en reaksie op die epidemie. ’n Vraelys is aan 977 werkende myne, steengroewe en mineraalprosesseringsaanlegte gestuur. ’n Responskoers van 10.8% is behaal. Die opname toon dat die impak van MIV/VIGS op die mynbousektor ernstig is. Die resultate toon dat ’n aansienlike aantal myne reeds die uitwerking van die epidemie ondervind. Amper die helfte van die groot myne wat gereageer het, het aangedui dat MIV/VIGS reeds ’n beduidende negatiewe uitwerking op hul werksaamhede gehad het, terwyl 75% van hierdie myne en ongeveer 50% van beide klein en medium-grootte myne ’n beduidend negatiewe impak oor die volgende vyf jaar verwag. Die impak blyk meer duidelik in die produksiekant te wees. Die meerderheid deelnemende myne het aangedui dat die epidemie ook gelei het tot ’n hoër arbeidsomsetkoers, ’n verlies aan ondervinding en vaardighede en hoër werwings- en opleidingskoste. In terme van winsneming, het 62% van die deelnemende myne aangedui dat die epidemie hul winsgewendheid benadeel het. Die opname het ook getoon dat die mynbousektor die leiding geneem het in terme van die implementering van MIV/VIGS-beleid en – programme, maar dat kleiner mynbouoperasies steeds in terme van hul MIV/VIGS-voorkoming en –behandelingsprogramme agter is.
Please refer to this item in SUNScholar by using the following persistent URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/50497