Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to analyse the local perception of the Corporate Social 
Responsibility (CSR) of the mining companies on local community development in 
Fetakgomo-Tubatse Local Municipality, Limpopo, South Africa, adopting a qualitative 
research method. Interview transcripts and field notes represented the primary data 
from which thematic analyses, labelling and organising evidence in themes and 
categories as they emerged out of the data rather than being imposed on research 
participants prior to data collection and analysis. The findings revealed that mining 
companies are partially contributing to the development of the communities where 
they do their operations and their impact is minimal. Their CSR projects lack 
sustainability and are not primarily changing the lives of the people due to high levels 
of under-development, illiteracy levels, lack of skills, unemployment and structural 
abject poverty in their mining communities.