MyZA

News, Directory, Events and Other Stuff

You are here: Home / News / Slippery Story Explains Lack Of Mining Investment

Slippery Story Explains Lack Of Mining Investment

Dear Editor

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has admitted it has not yet even signed a service level agreement with the companies chosen to provide a new mining cadastral system. In February Minister Gwede Mantashe boasted to a large international audience of investors at the Cape Town Mining Indaba that the consortium that will build the system had been chosen. He then gave himself 12 months which he said would be used to ensure the system would be properly implemented. He talked generalities but gave the clear impression that a deal had been done.

His announcement back then came after months during which he gave the public to understand that the mining applications data was being corrected prior to being loaded onto a new system.

Now we are told that three and a half months have gone by, and the most basic agreement has not yet been signed. The fact that there are not even agreed terms of reference will strengthen the belief that this government’s word is not to be trusted. Perhaps it is deliberately dragging its feet because it does not want to reveal how many connected cadres own mineral rights. It seems highly unlikely that we will have a functioning and credible cadastral system by February next year.

The consequences of this for South Africa’s mining industry have been underlined by the latest report on mining ‘investability’ drawn up by the internationally respected Fraser Institute. It shows South Africa is still in the bottom 30% for attractiveness for mining investment.

The Minerals Council has estimated that clearing a backlog of more than 3,000 mining rights could unlock about R30bn in investments. That would provide thousands of South Africans with a livelihood.

Mantashe has no urgency to get that done or to ease the lives of South Africans. At best this is due to his sloth and indolence but it’s also likely it down to his desire to protect his comrades.

Voters need to remember that when they go to the polls.

Regards

James Lorimer MP
DA Shadow Minister of Mineral Resources

Category: Tag:

If you feel strongly about this article then feel free to send MyZA a ‘Letter to the Editor’ using the submission form below:

Letter to the Editor

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
If this is in response to an article please include that article title here or as the lead in for the first paragraph of your Letter below.

Separate tags with commas

Localise your letter by naming the city your words are about. Add relevant words describing your subject. Single comma separated words of no more than 5
Your Name(Required)
Your Name will be linked to the website below.
Your personal, business or social media web site
Choose NO to not set up a user account on MyZA. User Accounts will allow you to submit letters under your own Author Name

3 Latest Letters to the Editor:

  • Older Persons Grants Land Today — No Need to Queue at Dawn

    Dear Editor, Older Persons grants are paid today, 30 October, under SASSA’s revised November payment schedule — with disability grants on Monday 2 November, children’s grants on Tuesday 3 November, and grants under review on Thursday 5 November. Two things every beneficiary should know. First, grant money does not expire on payment day. It stays…

  • November Grants Pay Early – No Need to Queue at Dawn

    Dear Editor, I run SAGrant (sagrant.co.za), a free resource helping South Africans navigate SASSA grants. November grants pay earlier than usual. Older Persons grants are paid on Friday 30 October, Disability grants on 2 November, and Child Support and other grants on 3 November. Grants still under review are paid on 5 November. The money…

  • NSFAS 2027 applications close on 31 October — SASSA households, apply now

    Dear Editor, I run SAGrant (sagrant.co.za), a free resource helping South Africans navigate SASSA grants. NSFAS applications for the 2027 academic year close on Friday 31 October 2026, and no extension is expected. If your household receives a SASSA grant, your child already passes the NSFAS financial eligibility test — but they still have to…

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Van is hitch-hiking and he gets picked up by a larnie in a merc. After travelling awhile and making small talk, Van asks the larnie what the 3-pointed star on the bonnet is for. The larnie decides to have some fun with Van.

    \”Oh, that\’s the sights, you know, for aiming. When I see someone on the side of the road and I want to run him over, I just line him up in the sights.\”

  2. There was a German, an Italian and Van der Merwe on death row.The warden gave them a choice of three ways to die:

    1. to be shot

    2. to be hung