Mineral Resources Minister, Gwede Mantashe says the Department is working hard to deal with the backlog of mining licence applications. He was speaking at the 30th edition of the Mining Indaba in Cape Town.
Mantashe says their new licencing system will also require more time before it comes online due to the migration of existing data from the old to the new system.
He says, “In dealing with the licensing backlog, significant progress has been made since we last met here. Of the 2000 applications received since the beginning of the financial year, the DMRE has granted 268 prospecting rights, 32 mining rights, 85 renewals, 184 amendments, and 190 permits.”
Earlier, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the South African mining industry has been a pillar of the country’s economy.
“It cannot be overly stated how crucial the mining sector is; it has a crucial role to play in building the economy of tomorrow. It can play as a really positive disruptor as we set up the levers of this new economy.”
VIDEO: President Ramaphosa delivers keynote address:
