South Africa grants 36 new mining licences
11 May 2015
The Department of Mineral Resources approved 36 new mining licences in the past year,
Minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi told Parliament at the tabling of his department's budget on
Thursday.
Depsite the recent challenges, including a tough economic climate, the department had
approved more than 36 new mining rights projects in the past 12 months, with a
potential to create about 6 000 jobs, he said.
Ramathlodi said the country's economy was recovering after last year's protracted
mining strike. In the first quarter of 2014, growth slowed to 0.6%.
Tabling his budget vote on Thursday, Ramatlhodi called on the mining sector to respect
and implement the framework agreement for a sustainable mining industry.
"Last year, we had to deal with the aftermath of the protracted platinum strike arising
from wage disputes," he said. "I am aware that wage negotiations are currently
underway within the gold sector and urge
stakeholders to draw lessons from experience
and avoid a repeat scenario."
Mineworkers' monuments
Ramathlodi said the government would continue to honour the memory of workers who
lost their lives in mine-related incidents. Mineworkers would always be acknowledged for
the role they have played in shaping the economy of the country, he said.
He said the National Union of Mineworkers had recently drawn the department's
attention to a gravesite near Evander in Mpumalanga province, where about 1 000
workers were buried during the apartheid era and whose names and origins remain
unknown. The minister said his department would ensure "decent monuments" would be
erected for them.
Fatalities drop
Ramatlhodi said the intensified monitoring and enforcement measures at mines was
helping the department inch closer to its goal of esuring zero harm on mineworkers.
Improved health and safety of workers at the mines had led
to a reduction of about 86%
in fatalities reported by the mines. From the 615 fatalities in 1993, the rate now stands
at 84 in 2014, Ramathlodi said.
"In fact, 2014 was the safest year ever for the mining sector with the lowest fatalities of
84 recorded. This year up to 31 March, figures show that there has been a 41%
reduction in fatalities when compared to the similar period during 2014," he said.
Source: SAnews.gov
Worker at Anglo American Platinum's Mogalakwena platinum mine near Mokopane in Limpopo province (Photo: Anglo American Plc's Flickr photostream)
Ngoako Ramathlodi is sworn in as South Africa's minister of mineral resources, Pretoria, 26 May 2014 (Photo: GCIS)
