Legacy of the Mine

Ilan Godfrey is the winner of the 2013 Ernest Cole Photographic Award. Legacy of the Mine is a visual narrative of untold stories, exploring the consequences of mining on South Africa’s land and people. The objective was to reveal through the lens the forgotten communities that the mining industry has left behind. Godfrey’s subjects become symbols of the struggle for environmental and social justice in the country. The ‘legacy’ of mining is apparent in many ways – through land rendered unfit for alternative uses, public health crises, land and water pollution, and the impact of historical labour exploitation on family structures. Unveiling these stories through investigative fieldwork across the country, Godfrey delves deeper into the effects of the mine on local communities. Godfrey’s inspiration was not defined by statistical or scientific evidence. Rather, it was the product of personal experience, investigation and knowledge gained through long hours of travel along potholed roads, across vast landscapes dotted with townships and mining communities across South Africa.