From http://www.miningmx.com/ SOUTH African mines minister,...

From http://www.miningmx.com/

SOUTH African mines minister, Susan Shabangu, said the country's much-vaunted amendments to its mining legislation would be endorsed in the days following President Jacob Zuma's state of the nation address in February. Responding to questions at the IHS McCloskey Coal Exports conference, Shabangu said the final draft of the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) was being studied "clause-by-clause" by a joint sitting of the portfolio committees of mineral resources, water, and environmental affairs."

As we speak today, they are having a joint meeting going through the parliamentary proposals clause by clause and the MPRDA's linkages to NEMA (National Environment Management Act). This is the time for them to sit and endorse it," she said."As parliament rises on 14 February, immediately after that, it will table it (MPRDA) in parliament where the National Assembly will endorse and conclude the MPRDA.

"The inputs from various sectors are done. We are done with this. I am positive that before the rise of parliament this year, this (amendment) act will be done. The mining industry can be assured that South Africa is a place to do business," she said