African National Congress National Executive Committee member Dr Mathews Phosa, above, pilloried the Department of Mineral Resources at the recent Junior Indaba for taking excessive time to process mining rights applications. The former Mpumalanga Premier described applying for a mining right as a painful experience and negotiating a water right as a big headache. He condemned the nonconsultative nature of the current policy process and described South Africa as a country in dire need of drastic political and economic change.