Legacy of the mine

In this visual narrative of untold stories, award-winning photographer Ilan Godfrey explores the consequences of mining on South Africa’s land and people. His images bring to life the forgotten communities that the mining industry has left behind, and his subjects thus become symbols of the struggle for environmental and social justice throughout the country. Rather than basing itself on dry scientific or statistical evidence, this collection is the result of a long and very personal journey across South Africa’s vast landscape, dotted with townships and mining communities. As he examines the legacy of mining—the land rendered unfit for alternative uses, the public health crises, land and water pollution, and the impact of historical labor exploitation on family structures—Ilan Godfrey delves deeper into the effects of the mine on local communities.