[miningmx.com] — THE Chamber of Mines on Thursday held the first of a
series of meetings with junior mining companies in order to bring about co-operation
between the two groups.
“The Chamber of Mines took a strategic decision to broaden its representativity
beyond large mining companies and deal with challenges facing the mining industry
more holistically,’ Chamber of Mines President Dr Xolani Mkhwanazi said after the
meeting.
“It is important to note that most of these mining companies we met with today are
not members of the Chamber of Mines.’
Chamber of Mines membership is dominated by established mining companies, while
emerging companies, largely under black control, are members of the SA Mining
Development Association (Samda).
Mineral Affairs Deputy Minister Godfrey Oliphant also attended the meeting in
Johannesburg.
Mkhwanazi said the purpose of the meeting was to start a dialogue process which
would identify areas of co-operation in addressing the challenges of the mining
industry as well as to facilitate sustainable collaboration between large mining
companies and emerging ones.
Oliphant said in a speech there is a collective responsibility for everyone involved in
the mining industry to ensure that all South Africans benefit from the country’s
mineral wealth.
“Our success will not be secured by aspirations alone, we need skills, experience and
funding for this industry to optimise the management of our resources to benefit all
South Africans to address the challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequalities,’
Oliphant said.
“We need to do things differently. This initiative by the Chamber of Mines was
therefore timely.’
Nchaka Moloi, CEO of Motjoli Resources and a leading figure in the field, said the
meeting was a very positive development.
“I was invited but, unfortunately, couldn’t attend. I believe the Chamber’s intentions
are sincere in this, and there is a great deal that can be achieved with this, for
example a more rapid transfer of skills and an accelerated investment programme,’
Moloi said.
– Sake24
