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Community members watch as Senzo Mchunu, South African police minister, inspects outside the mineshaft where it is estimated that hundreds of illegal miners are believed to be hiding underground, after police cut off food and water as part of police operations against illegal miners, in Stilfontein, South Africa, November 15, 2024
The Minerals Council of South Africa says the Mineral Resources Development Bill, in its current form does not encourage growth and investment into the mining industry.
It argues that South Africa needs a mining legislative framework that promotes global competitiveness to attract investment, create jobs and drive transformation.
The Council says it has made its submission to the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources and looks forward to a revised bill ahead of its tabling in Parliament.
Minerals Council CEO Mzila Mthenjane welcomes the criminalisation of illegal mining and the introduction of artisanal mining, but says several key areas must still be addressed.
“I think it requires consistency with the defined terms used. We’d like to see regulations being published sooner rather than later for scrutiny and alignment with the legislation. There’s a reference to other BEE legislation, and I think there needs to be transitional provisions provided between the MPRDA and the Broad-Based BEE Act.
Lastly, I think it’s important to understand the socio-economic impact assessment that we believe has been conducted, as well as the regulatory impact assessment, such that we understand what the key findings were.”
Minerals Council SA is advocating for the new ‘minerals’ bill to encourage investment
