"Politics has become the Berlin wall of SA's mining industry"

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"Politics has become the Berlin wall of SA's mining industry"

4 August 2017 1:36 PM

It has been confirmed that Minister of Mineral Resources Mosebenzi Zwane has withdrawn a moratorium on applying for mining and prospecting rights.

Zwane gazetted the moratorium after the Chamber of Mines had gone to court to stop his implementation of the new mining charter, which they say they were not consulted about.

Mining and labour analyst at Creative Vodoo Consulting, Mamokgethi Molopyane says we are now in the face of a tit for tat between the ministry and business.

She says it seems Zwane was the first one to blink in the fight.

I think now what needs to be done is for the minister and business to sit and come up with at least two common visions towards a sustainable mining industry.
— Mamokgethi Molopyane, Labour and mining analyst

When all is said and done and this is not settled, we are looking at three years or more of court battles of ongoing disputes between the department and mining.
— Mamokgethi Molopyane, Labour and mining analyst

Molopyane says both the ministry and business need to acknowledge that they are putting jobs at risks.

The politics in mining and the interference of politicians have strained investments to the rest of the continent becoming a challenge to turn around the mining industry in South Africa.

Politics at the moment is the Berlin wall of our mining industry...
— Mamokgethi Molopyane, Labour and mining analyst

To hear more of this interview, listen below:

Written by: Lengwadishang Ramphele

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