South Africa’s new Mineral Resources Minister, Ngoako Ramatlhodi, is seen being sworn in at a ceremony conducted last month by South Africa’s Chief Justice, Mogoeng Mogoeng. No sooner had the oath of office been taken than Ramatlhodi found himself in the deep end of the 19-week-old strike in the platinum belt, which was showing no sign of relenting at the time of going to press. He quickly announced the establishment of an intergovernmental technical team to work with labour and business in an attempt to resolve the strike by 80 000 members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union, which has cost the companies R20-billlion in lost revenue and the employees R9-billion in lost pay.