AGREEMENT between the South African government and the country’s mining sector on a new Mining Charter could only be reached through negotiation, said African National Congress (ANC) treasurer-general, Dr Zweli Mkhize,
Speaking at the Joburg Indaba mining conference today, Mkhize said the review of the Charter, brought before a full bench of judges in the High Court in December, was not the best means of resolution.
The Chamber described the impact of the Reviewed Mining Charter undertaken by mines minister, Mosebenzi Zwane’s Department of Mineral Resources (DMR), as “egregious” as it contained regulations that had not been previously discussed with the mining sector and could not be practically implemented. The High Court is to meet on December 13-14.
“Even with the best outcomes out of court, the most likely outcome is that a whole negotiation needs to be reopened. It is better to get a forumula, solution or decision that we can live with together rather than subjecting everything to the courts in order to take ourselves forward,” said Mkhize.
The view of the Chamber of Mines is that there is little prospect of sitting around the negotiation table before the end of the year given the looming ANC presidential vote in December, the same month in which the High Court will review the Mining Charter.
“If the ANC went that way [of negotiation] it would not delay our court process in the short term. But I suspect the ANC has got its hands full at the moment,” said Baxter in a press conference of the sidelines of the Joburg Indaba. Asked if he would change his mind were the ANC to change mines minister, Baxter said: “I won’t speculate on that”.
Mkhize, who is running for the ANC presidency at the party’s December elective conference, acknowledged that allegations of ‘state capture’ by the wealthy Gupta family was “a huge embarrassment”.
He backed expediting a commission in inquiry regarding corruption among senior government levels. “This commission must be able to question everyone involved and get to a place where there are investigations by the police,” he said. “As a party, when the outcome of findings are released, we should be able to act.”
Question is: Who should really represent Industry in discussions with Government on the Charter.
I have seen many times the claims from COM that they represent 90% of the mining industry.
How true is that claim? They do represent the most of the big companies, but they definitely do not represent most of the junior companies and most definitely not the exploration companies.
And then, does the COM really have the skills and expertise to represent Industry in these negotiations. I think not. I believe that Industry should be represented by a joint task team consisting of COM as well as other industry representatives as well as representatives from Financial institutions.
COM should not be trusted nor tasked to negotiate on behalf of Industry alone.
Well said Jack – the exploration companies need their own forum for negotiations – It is doubtful whether the fossilized COM understands the basics of exploration
Exploration is the future of the mining industry but it has no voice.
Unfortunately the COM has always viewed it self as the ” sole spokesman of the resources industry” – also being endorsed for exploration on Linkedin does not qualify any non geologist in that field
Does the COM have a plan to address the evil of economic discrimination in mining and its legacies left by the crime of apartheid? Or is the public expected to just accept their assertions that attempts to redress past imbalances are impractical and unworkable? Surely they must put forward their comprehensive plan if they don’t agree with the mine’ minister.