JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane has placed an 18-month moratorium on Transworld Energy and Mineral Resources’ (TEM’s) application to mine at Xolobeni in the Eastern Cape.
TEM is a subsidiary of ASX-listed Mineral Commodities, which announced in July that it plans to sell its stake in Xolobeni to empowerment partner Keysha Investments amid continued opposition by community members.
Zwane noted in the Government Gazette of September 15 that the moratorium would be put in place owing to the “social and political climate” at Xolobeni and in light of the “highly volatile nature of the current situation in the area”.
The Minister also placed a moratorium on all further applications for prospecting or mining authorisations on the Mpahlane, Mnyameni, Kwanyana, Sikombe and Mtentu mining blocks at Xolobeni.
Zwane has given stakeholders 21 days to submit presentations on the moratorium.