DW Finds 'Pressure' For Fair Taxes, Misses Centuries of Extraction
DW notes that South African mining faces renewed calls for equitable taxation (DW.com, 11/21/2025). This 'pressure,' we're told, is a recent development, implying that before now, the system was just... fine. The article features quotes from politicians and industry figures, discussing the 'delicate balance' of attractive investment versus fair revenue. One might wonder: delicate for whom? What
the article omits is the rather extensive history of resource extraction in South Africa, a legacy built on racialized labor exploitation and the systemic syphoning of wealth. From the diamond and gold rushes that fueled colonial expansion to Anglo American Corporation's apartheid-era profits (documented by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission findings), the 'tax rules' were always designed for
benefit—just not for South Africans. The 'pressure' isn't new; it's the latest iteration of a struggle against entrenched systems that have ensured external entities profited disproportionately from Africa's riches for centuries. Call it 'fairer tax rules,' but it tastes a lot like trying to claw back what was always theirs to begin with.