Star 2025-10-09

The Minerals Council South Africa has reiterated its warning that the proposed Minerals Amendment Bill, in its current form, could undermine the sector’s ability to attract investment, create jobs and stimulate growth. The 2025 Mineral Resources Development Amendment Bill (MRDB), published for public comment on May 20, proposes significant amendments to the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) of 2002. The draft law seeks to formalise artisanal mining, strengthen environmental and community consultation, promote mineral beneficiation, and enhance regulatory certainty for investors. Among the proposed changes are a new licensing regime for small-scale mining, clearer definitions for “community” and “interested and affected parties,” and tougher enforcement mechanisms. The Bill also addresses associated minerals, historic mine dumps, and suggests that petroleum resources may be separated into their own legislation. Speaking…

The Public Investment Corporation (PIC) has announced a R1.35 billion funding allocation to support early-stage mining opportunities across South Africa and the rest of the African continent. The largest asset manager in Africa with over R3 trillion in assets under management said on Wednesday that this move was aimed at boosting exploration, supporting the just energy transition, and driving inclusive economic growth. The PIC said the funding will target mining projects that are well advanced — from post-scoping to bankable feasibility study (BFS) stage — providing critical capital at a stage often considered too risky for traditional investors. According to the PIC, the strategic allocation will enable it to back the growth of South Africa’s mining sector through indirect investments, primarily via private equity, venture capital, specialist mining funds, and…

Deal to acquire Teck gives Anglo access to the Canada-based company’s portfolio of copper mines Anglo American said $50 billion (R858bn) merger terms with Teck Resources would remain unchanged, this barely a month after the deal was announced and after Teck revised downwards its production guidance of its Quebrada Blanca (QB) copper mine. Teck on Wednesday lowered its guidance for the QB copper mine high in Chile’s Atacama desert, as part of a wider operational review, to between 170 000 to 190 000 tons, from previous guidance of 210 000 to 230 000 tons. The deal to acquire Teck crucially gives Anglo access to the Canada-based company’s portfolio of copper mines - copper has become a sought-after mining commodity given its soaring demand arising out of the global energy transition.…

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) have said that Eskom workers are preparing to demand a 15% wage increase, along with higher housing and other allowances, ahead of the upcoming round of salary negotiations with the power utility. NUM spokesperson Livhuwani Mammburu confirmed that formal wage talks had not yet begun but said preparations were underway. “The wage negotiations haven't yet started," Mammburu said on Wednesday. The wage talks come as Eskom returns to profitability for the first time in eight years, reporting a R23.9 billion profit before tax in its latest financial results — a sharp turnaround from the R25.5bn loss the previous year. This marked the first return to profitability since the 2017 financial year. Economists have cautioned that a 15% wage hike is unrealistic and unaffordable for…

A new private-sector proposal has reignited debate about how South Africa might simplify transformation. The concept is simple: companies pay 3% of gross revenue in exchange for automatic Level 3 B-BBEE status — a neat alternative to the complex scorecard system. On paper, it sounds practical. The model offers predictability, reduces red tape and could channel significant funding into the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s (DTIC) proposed Transformation Fund. For small and mid-sized businesses, particularly those with turnover under R200 million, it could turn empowerment from an administrative task into a straightforward contribution. However, this is not government policy. The idea was developed by Alan Knott-Craig Jr. and his NGO, Kululeka.org, and submitted privately to the DTIC. While Minister Parks Tau has said “challenge accepted”, there has been…

Philip Morris International (PMI) said on Wednesday that South Africa’s new regulatory process for the tobacco industry could mark a turning point for the country’s harm reduction agenda, as government considers how to regulate new smokeless and alternative nicotine products. The Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, currently under discussion in Parliament, has reignited debate about the future of tobacco regulation in South Africa. Big tobacco companies — including PMI and British American Tobacco South Africa (BATSA) — recently made submissions to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health, calling for differentiation between combustible and smokeless tobacco products. PMI has argued that treating all nicotine products the same would be a missed opportunity to reduce smoking-related diseases, while BATSA said the proper regulation of less harmful alternatives could help…