, SUS1501
ASSIGNMENT 4 SEMESTER 2
2026
DUE 24 AUGUST 2026
Is This Ok? An Analysis of South Africa's Mining Inequality Through Rawlsian Justice
Analysis Using John Rawls' Three Principles
The First Principle: The Principle of Equal Basic Liberties
Rawls' first principle demands that "every person must have equal basic liberties such as freedom
of speech, political freedom and freedom from exploitation" (Rawls, 1971, p. 53). When we
examine South Africa's mining industry from the era of Cecil John Rhodes to the present day, we
encounter a system where workers' fundamental liberties have been systematically compromised.
The Marikana Massacre of 10 August 2012 serves as a stark illustration of this failure. When 34
striking miners were killed by police while demanding a living wage of R12,500, it exposed how
state power was deployed not to preserve workers' rights but to protect corporate interests
(Alexander et al., 2012, p. 87). As the Minister of Mineral Resources framed the strike as "not a
labour dispute but a criminal act," workers were deprived of their basic right to collective
bargaining and peaceful protest (Marinovich, 2012, p. 142).
Rawls' first principle is lexically prior to all others - meaning if it is violated, subsequent principles
become irrelevant (Rawls, 1971, p. 302). The exploitation inherent in the mining sector, where
workers face dangerous conditions for inadequate wages while shareholders accumulate vast
wealth, represents a clear violation of basic liberties. The historical continuity of this exploitation
suggests that the system fails Rawls' foundational test.
The Second Principle: Fair Equality of Opportunity and the Difference Principle
The second principle contains two components that must be assessed sequentially:
Part A: Fair Equality of Opportunity
Rawls argues that offices and positions must be "open to everyone formally" and that everyone
must have a "meaningful opportunity to attain them regardless of the social class one is born into"
(Rawls, 1971, p. 73). South Africa's apartheid legacy has created structural barriers that persist
today. Those born into poor communities lack access to quality education, healthcare, and
networks that would enable genuine competition for positions of advantage. When Motsepe, in his
role as president of the Chamber of Mines, stated that black empowerment required "a bankable
track record" and access to funds, he inadvertently acknowledged that meaningful opportunity
ASSIGNMENT 4 SEMESTER 2
2026
DUE 24 AUGUST 2026
Is This Ok? An Analysis of South Africa's Mining Inequality Through Rawlsian Justice
Analysis Using John Rawls' Three Principles
The First Principle: The Principle of Equal Basic Liberties
Rawls' first principle demands that "every person must have equal basic liberties such as freedom
of speech, political freedom and freedom from exploitation" (Rawls, 1971, p. 53). When we
examine South Africa's mining industry from the era of Cecil John Rhodes to the present day, we
encounter a system where workers' fundamental liberties have been systematically compromised.
The Marikana Massacre of 10 August 2012 serves as a stark illustration of this failure. When 34
striking miners were killed by police while demanding a living wage of R12,500, it exposed how
state power was deployed not to preserve workers' rights but to protect corporate interests
(Alexander et al., 2012, p. 87). As the Minister of Mineral Resources framed the strike as "not a
labour dispute but a criminal act," workers were deprived of their basic right to collective
bargaining and peaceful protest (Marinovich, 2012, p. 142).
Rawls' first principle is lexically prior to all others - meaning if it is violated, subsequent principles
become irrelevant (Rawls, 1971, p. 302). The exploitation inherent in the mining sector, where
workers face dangerous conditions for inadequate wages while shareholders accumulate vast
wealth, represents a clear violation of basic liberties. The historical continuity of this exploitation
suggests that the system fails Rawls' foundational test.
The Second Principle: Fair Equality of Opportunity and the Difference Principle
The second principle contains two components that must be assessed sequentially:
Part A: Fair Equality of Opportunity
Rawls argues that offices and positions must be "open to everyone formally" and that everyone
must have a "meaningful opportunity to attain them regardless of the social class one is born into"
(Rawls, 1971, p. 73). South Africa's apartheid legacy has created structural barriers that persist
today. Those born into poor communities lack access to quality education, healthcare, and
networks that would enable genuine competition for positions of advantage. When Motsepe, in his
role as president of the Chamber of Mines, stated that black empowerment required "a bankable
track record" and access to funds, he inadvertently acknowledged that meaningful opportunity
