Cape Town – Mineral Resources Minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi says despite recent challenges that faced the mining industry, the department has approved 36 new mining licences in the past year.
The Minister announced this when he tabled his department’s Budget Vote Speech at the National Assembly on Thursday.
“Notwithstanding current challenges, the [department] approved over 36 new mining rights projects in the past 12 months, with a potential to create about 6 000 jobs,” he said.
Minister Ramatlhodi’s statement comes at a time that the country’s growth is slowly recovering following a protracted mining strike that almost brought the economy to its knees.
After Minister Ramatlhodi had appointed an inter-governmental task team in a bid to negotiate a quick resolution in the platinum mine strike, he later withdrew government’s intervention in June to allow parties to move forward and bargain on their own.
At the time, the country’s Growth Domestic Product (GDP) had slowed to 0.6% in the first quarter of 2014, with Statistician General Pali Lehohla saying a contraction in the mining sector had brought the economy to its lowest - lowest – worse than it was in 2009 when the country was in recession.
Tabling his budget vote, Minister 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.
“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,” he said.
Monuments to be erected to commemorate ex-mineworkers
The Minister said government will continue to honour the memory of workers who have lost their lives during mine-related incidents.
He also said that mineworkers would always be acknowledged for the role they have played in shaping the economy of the country.
Mining remains the biggest contributor to the country’s GDP.
“… The National Union of Mineworkers has brought to our attention a gravesite in the Evander area in the Mpumalanga province where about 1000 workers were buried during the apartheid era and whose names and origins are unknown.
“Accordingly, the department will collaborate with other stakeholders to ensure that decent monuments are erected for them,” he said.
Mining fatalities drop
Minister Ramatlhodi said his department’s target to ensure a goal of zero harm on mineworkers remains an ultimate goal.
He said intensifying monitoring and enforcement measures has led to his department edging closer to achieving the goal.
This has led to improved health and safety of the workers at the mines – leading to a reduction of about 86% in fatalities reported by the mines since the dawn of democracy from 615 in 1993 to 84 in 2014, the Minister 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 problem during 2014,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
