The fact that mining was chosen as one of the three critical industries in the third phase of the Government-Business Partnership is a “tremendous vote of confidence” in the sector’s ability to rapidly attract investment in exploration and new production as well as expand existing projects, says mining industry employers’ organisation Minerals Council South Africa CEO Mzila Mthenjane.

He stresses that this will be the Minerals Council’s core focus at this year’s Joburg Indaba conference, which is taking place on October 7 and 8, at The Inanda Club, in Johannesburg.

At the event, Minerals Council president Paul Dunne will provide an update on the organisation’s Investment and Growth Strategy.

The strategy identifies the key constraints deterring the domestic and international investment needed to fund exploration, new mine development and existing operations, thereby growing the sector, creating jobs and contributing to revitalising the economy.

The strategy, endorsed by the Minerals Council’s board, is focused on decisive actions to address those constraints as quickly as possible and in close collaboration with mining stakeholders, particularly the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR), other key departments and the Presidency, says Mthenjane.

Importantly, the Minerals Council is engaged with the DMPR, through the Government-Business Partnership Phase 3 workstream, to unlock more than R50-billion in investment by addressing three key constraints.

The nature of the engagement will be highlighted in the panel discussion in which Mthenjane will participate.

“Mining has always been one of South Africa’s great economic strengths,” says Mthenjane, adding that it has helped build the country, supporting communities across every province and remains one of the sectors with the greatest potential to contribute to growth.

Additionally, it has a significant multiplier effect which must be leveraged for much-needed economic diversification and job creation.

Working Trifecta

“The mining sector’s inclusion as one of the workstreams sends an important message: Mining is not a sunset industry,” stresses Mthenjane.

He explains that mining is a sector with significant untapped potential, particularly as countries increasingly search for critical minerals and seek to secure associated supply chains to support industrial development, energy security and the energy transition.

The work will be underpinned by three core commitments.

The first involves the council’s aforementioned work with the DMPR to unlock R50-billion in capital investment by February 2028.



Additionally, it will also look at projects where rights, permits or approvals may have been granted, but where investment has yet to translate into activity on the ground.



The second commitment is to conduct a competitiveness gap analysis to improve South Africa’s competitiveness as a mining destination.



The third commitment is the full implementation of the national mining cadastre by March 2027.