SUS1501
ASSIGNMENT 5 SEMESTER 1 2025
UNIQUE NO. 523321
DUE DATE: 1 JULY 2025
, Sustainability and Greed
BACKGROUND FACTS
In 2024, Elon Musk’s wealth grew by an astonishing ZAR 12 billion every single day.
Meanwhile, about 60% of the world’s cobalt — a key mineral used in batteries for
smartphones, laptops, and electric cars — comes from the Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC). A significant portion of this cobalt is mined under dangerous conditions,
often by children.
Among the ten richest people in the world — all men — eight are tech billionaires.
Together, their combined wealth is estimated at around USD 1.6 trillion, which is
roughly ZAR 31 trillion.
These facts paint a picture of extreme inequality: a world where unimaginable wealth
exists alongside unacceptable exploitation. These realities form the backdrop for the
reflections and discussions we’ve had throughout this course.
INTRODUCTION
In Assessments 2, 3, and 4, we spent a lot of time reflecting on the actions and ethics of
other people — from billionaires like Elon Musk to children working in harsh conditions
in cobalt mines in the DRC. We debated how one man could increase his wealth by
ZAR 12 billion a day, and whether this kind of inequality is justifiable. We also discussed
how some of the world’s most powerful tech companies rely on minerals mined by
vulnerable people, including children.
Through these debates, many of us began to see that extreme wealth and deep poverty
are not separate stories — they are connected. We questioned the fairness of a system
where a small group benefits enormously while so many others suffer. While there were
a range of views in our discussions, most of us were left feeling uneasy about the world
as it is.
ASSIGNMENT 5 SEMESTER 1 2025
UNIQUE NO. 523321
DUE DATE: 1 JULY 2025
, Sustainability and Greed
BACKGROUND FACTS
In 2024, Elon Musk’s wealth grew by an astonishing ZAR 12 billion every single day.
Meanwhile, about 60% of the world’s cobalt — a key mineral used in batteries for
smartphones, laptops, and electric cars — comes from the Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC). A significant portion of this cobalt is mined under dangerous conditions,
often by children.
Among the ten richest people in the world — all men — eight are tech billionaires.
Together, their combined wealth is estimated at around USD 1.6 trillion, which is
roughly ZAR 31 trillion.
These facts paint a picture of extreme inequality: a world where unimaginable wealth
exists alongside unacceptable exploitation. These realities form the backdrop for the
reflections and discussions we’ve had throughout this course.
INTRODUCTION
In Assessments 2, 3, and 4, we spent a lot of time reflecting on the actions and ethics of
other people — from billionaires like Elon Musk to children working in harsh conditions
in cobalt mines in the DRC. We debated how one man could increase his wealth by
ZAR 12 billion a day, and whether this kind of inequality is justifiable. We also discussed
how some of the world’s most powerful tech companies rely on minerals mined by
vulnerable people, including children.
Through these debates, many of us began to see that extreme wealth and deep poverty
are not separate stories — they are connected. We questioned the fairness of a system
where a small group benefits enormously while so many others suffer. While there were
a range of views in our discussions, most of us were left feeling uneasy about the world
as it is.
