The mining sector accounted for approximately 50% of South Africa's foreign currency earnings and 7% of South Africa's GDP in 2007. The DA believes that, with careful planning, a mine can become a driver of sustainable economic development beyond its own life. Sustainable mining and mine closures can aid developing economies to the advantage of communities and mining houses. Efforts by many mining companies to reprocess mine tailing facilities or mine dumps should be managed not only to the benefit of the communities, the mining houses, but also to the state as tax receiver.