Ministers to discuss MPRDA amendments

Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa told MPs on Wednesday that talks between herself and Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu on amendments to the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA), were "imminent".

Speaking during debate on her department's Budget vote, Molewa said she would report back once the discussions had taken place.

Environmentalists have accused Shabangu of dragging her feet on the matter. The Minerals and Petroleum Resource Development Amendment Act was passed by Parliament over two years ago, but has not been commenced by her department.

Briefing the media earlier at Parliament, Molewa said environmental affairs was working with mineral resources on "possible" amendments to the act.

"We are... working with the department of mineral (resources) to bring into force the amendments -possible amendments, let me put it that way, because this issue is still under discussion -to the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act."

This would enable her department to integrate and improve the effectiveness of a streamlined environmental authorisation system for the mining sector.

"There have been quite a number of challenges... about delays of environmental impact assessments and various other permitting systems," she said.