New Minerals Minister Mosebenzi Zwane chose to take the mining industry by surprise when he unilaterally gazetted a revised Mining Charter without consulting a soul in mainstream mining. If his objective is to halt investment and retard the South African economy, then he will have achieved it handsomely. But the major problem is that, as a Minister of State, he is morally and constitutionally bound to do the opposite. He is duty bound to foster economic growth to diminish the triple evils of unemployment, inequality and poverty. Instead, this grossly inexperienced Minister chooses to put the knife into economic growth and thus a chance for millions of South Africans who are bereft of economic opportunity.