It was wonderful that many mining-related investments were confirmed at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s investment conference in Johannesburg. Diversified mining company Anglo American pledged R70-billion. Vedanta Zinc International pledged R21.4-billion in additional possible investment in a zinc smelter and refinery in the Northern Cape, now under investigation. Bushveld Minerals pledged R2.5-billion to expand vanadium mining and support local beneficiation, and Ivanplats pledged R4.5-billion in platinum investment in Limpopo. These investment pledges have created an important new enthusiasm to increase the role that mining can play in the South African economy. With the mineral riches this country has, there is major scope for increasing mining’s contribution to South Africa’s gross domestic product well beyond the current low 4% level.