150,000 jobs disappeared in one sector after BEE was implemented and mineral reserves were nationalised

• The implementation of BEE and nationalization of mineral reserves led to the collapse of the Free State gold fields, resulting in 150,000 job losses.
• The collapse of the gold fields was caused by a combination of factors including increased state intervention, rising electricity costs, collapsing infrastructure, and a fall in gold prices.
• The study on the effects of unplanned industrial transitions highlights the potential consequences of the Just Energy Transition in South Africa, which aims to move the economy away from coal-fired electricity and towards renewable alternatives.