| | The strategic importance of the whole region and the Cape sea routes and of key minerals like gold and, increasingly, uranium make it unlikely that SA can be 'abandoned' , especially given the new trends in the western economies. However, the mining industry is leaving nothing to chance and is taking measures to guard against this, and against a future transition to socialism. It is mechanising mining operations - thus making the industry more technologically dependent, and also able to make some concessions to a black labour force that will be skilled and non-migrant. It is also developing new forms of integration with foreign governments and companies. |
