In developing countries as well as in emerging economy countries, mining activities for minerals endowed countries contribute in a bigger junk into their GDP. Unfortunately, towns developed around mines have been found extinguished as soon as mining activities cease as operations downscaling and closure of mines often are inevitable due to either depletion of the Run Of Mine (ROM) or lack of appropriate and adequate mining technologies for environmentally friendly and safer operations mine or due to a global market price decline of the specific commodity. As soon as the mine is closed, towns around them or grown around mining activity turn into ghost towns. In South Africa Welkom, far west of Johannesburg and many others previously evolved around gold mining have seen their economic values and attractiveness decreased.

This research investigates the current situation of mining activities in Kuruman, Kathu and Hotazel of John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality (JTGDM) towns. The study will show the relationship between the mining corporations and other affected stakeholders in those towns and their importance thereof. The research utilizes multiple methods in the collection and analysis of data, but not limited to questionnaires, interviews, surveys and analysis of documents. The study reveals that the current situation in JTGDM towns will have a negative outlook beyond mining operations. Thus, the paper will discuss strategies to avoid JTGDM towns to turn into ghost towns after the mining of manganese ore and iron ore in those areas will cease. Strategies for sustainability for post-mining operations will be the core of the paper.

Keywords: Ghost towns, sustainability, mining, post-mining, strategies for sustainability