Mining News South Africa

Zwane won't implement new charter

The minister of mineral resources has undertaken, in writing, not to implement the reviewed Mining Charter until judgment has been handed down in the Chamber of Mines' review application of the legislation.
Mosebenzi Zwane, minister of mineral resources
Mosebenzi Zwane, minister of mineral resources

This is in stark contrast with his comments at the Africa DownUnder Conference in Perth, Australia last week, where he told the international mining community that the charter is “law” and that companies have 12 months within which to comply.

The chamber and legal counsel representing mineral resources minister, Mosebenzi Zwane, presented the minister’s written undertaking to the High Court of Gauteng (Pretoria) for noting.

“This is the second written undertaking the minister has given to avoid legal proceedings in respect of the Reviewed Mining Charter. His comments caused further damage to investor confidence in an industry already struggling to secure investment. The minister’s latest written undertaking now includes a commitment to provide clarity about his undertaking to suspend implementation whenever he discusses the charter in the public domain,” a statement from the chamber said.

In the interests of expediting the review process, the chamber has agreed that the matter be heard on 13 and 14 December 2017 before a full bench of judges.

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