Miningmx writes that Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe has asserted that a decision by the Minerals Council SA (MCSA) to seek a judicial review of the Mining Charter was a pretext for cutting jobs.  

Speaking on the sidelines of a pre-election meeting in Vereeniging, Mantashe said the MCSA was only interested in creating uncertainty in the mining sector because it was in this context that it could continue to cut jobs.  At a meeting two weeks ago, the council apparently “wanted everything to go its way”, while Mantashe pointed out that the charter was a document involving the input of “many stakeholders” and to “have everything you like is selfish”.  The MCSA announced on 27 March that although it had not exhausted negotiations with the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) on additional changes to the Mining Charter, which was updated by government gazette in December, it would ask for a judicial review on the issue of ‘continuing consequences’.  This describes the issue of whether mining companies are always empowered once they have met the original Mining Charter empowerment criteria of 26% (and other targets) as set down in 2004.  The most recent wording of the Mining Charter makes it explicit that in order to renew a mining licence, or transfer it, the mining companies must re-empower themselves in line with the 2004 targets.  The MCSA argues that this is contrary to a high court ruling in 2017.

• Read the full original of David McKay’s report in the above regard at Miningmx

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