The deadline for finalising the new Mining Charter is now at the end of May. Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe has been engaging community members on the Charter at Kathu in the Northern Cape.
Community members afforded an opportunity to contribute to the beleaguered Mining Charter. It ended up in court for a judicial review.
Northern Cape Kathu’s Reginald Witbooi says “A court application brought by the Chamber of Mines was put on hold after President Cyril Ramaphosa intervened saying an amicable solution could be found in the matter.”
It was back to the drawing board for the Department of Minerals and Resources including discussions with all relevant stakeholders and community members. Now there is a new deadline.
Gwede Mantashe says: “We are expecting people who are coming to these meetings to come to these meetings, make their input, take the discussion, report back to their communities. And if we can perfect that system it would be the most perfect system. We are aiming end of May that is when the three months ends. We’re aiming there, we still have that target.”
The Minister’s consultative meeting was not welcomed by other people.
Resident Tshepo Jantjie says: “I am not satisfied, the way the minister has answered our questions, it shows us he is not in touch with the mines and the concerns.”
The delegation still needs to visit communities in North-West, Free-State and the Eastern Cape on the matter.
Related video click below:
