Deputy Minister’s briefing
Mr Oliphant said that the “whole country” was waiting for the Committee to conclude its work on the MPRDA, as it would be pivotal in deciding in which direction the country was headed. The DMR was in discussions with a wide variety of stakeholders on the issue and other related minerals aspects, to provide some clarity on the way forward. The Department wanted to resolve the issues related to the MPRDA and the Mining Charter within the next three months.
The DMR was concerned about the inordinately long delay in concluding the Parliamentary work on the MPRDA. It did not want to interfere in the orderly running of the Parliamentary processes, but he wanted to urge the Committee to do all it could to conclude the MPRDA by the end of April if possible.
The investment climate was changing, and South Africa had to be ready to move forward to reap the benefits of the impending economic growth for the country and its people.
Mining was critical in developing the local economy, and he emphasised that the growth and development had to benefit all and be inclusive and transformative. It was therefore critical that work on the MPRDA be concluded as soon as possible.
He was concerned about the ongoing practice of illegal mining, which included the loss of life of some zama zamas (illegal miners). The DMR wanted to legalise illegal mining but he admitted that the issue was complex given the country’s history of inequalities.
The Department was also assessing how best to deal with the matters currently before the courts that related to the Mining Charter and the empowerment status of previous deals – “once empowered always empowered.”
The DMR was studying the court judgments, including the declaratory order which had gone against the DMR and in favour of the Chamber of Mines, and would engage with stakeholders to come to an agreement as soon as possible.
The Chairperson thanked the Deputy Minister for his comments, and said that the Committee would definitely take them on board.
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