The South African mining sector is currently in a challenging situation and all industry stakeholders must work together to overcome the prevailing difficulties and move the sector forward, Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane said recently.

He explained that one way of taking the industry forward would be for new black-owned companies to join the local mining industry.

“This is not just a job for government, as this country belongs to all of us,” Zwane stated.

To this end, he challenged the Chamber of Mines to assist government in bringing at least ten new black-owned mining companies into the sector over the next three years.

“These new entrants should not just be interested in making money out of mining and then exiting the industry, but [must be] people that are committed to the long-term revitalisation of the sector,” Zwane stressed.

The Minister said that, to ensure the success of these potential new entrants, government and industry would have to support them “as much as possible to ensure they achieve great things”.

He further remarked that more also had to be done with regard to the implementation of mining companies’ social labour plans (SLPs).

“We believe that, if government and mining companies coordinate their efforts, South Africa will benefit more than it is currently benefiting from SLP initiatives,” Zwane contended.

He therefore called on the Chamber of Mines, as representative of the mining industry, not to focus only on the issue of infrastructure development in mine-hosting communities; mines should also place a greater emphasis on using SLPs to stimulate growth in the economy.

The Minister urged mines to work with neighbouring communities to foster sustainable partnerships as a means of ensuring economic development.

“This will go a long way towards preventing communities from burning schools and clinics and destroying other property, as they will not destroy something which they contributed towards building in the first place,” he said.

Additionally, Zwane confirmed that he, along with Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, was in the process of meeting with the banks which had closed Gupta-owned Oakbay’s bank accounts.

“We engaged with the banks. We have sticking points and a report on the development of this matter will soon be presented to Cabinet.

“It is government’s view simply that this matter should be resolved. We will not allow people to lose their jobs,” he emphasised.

Zwane recounted a recent meeting he had with Oakbay employees, who highlighted that they were very worried about their future.