Postponement Of Court Application On Reviewed Mining Charter

The Chamber of Mines (CoM) has advised that, following the State of the Nation Address on Friday, 16 February, and subsequent engagement with the Presidency, it has agreed jointly with the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) to postpone its court application in respect of the Reviewed Mining Charter (RMC), that was due to be heard in the High Court on 19 to 21 February.

The Presidency has indicated that the President is committed to resolving the impasse over the Mining Charter and to facilitate a process of developing a New Mining Charter, inclusive of all stakeholders and in the interests of the industry and the country as a whole.

In line with the spirit and the tone of the message as stated by the President during SONA, the CoM is agreeable to the request by the Presidency to give negotiations a chance. The CoM wishes to reiterate its position that only a negotiated Mining Charter taking on board the views and inputs of all key stakeholders will enjoy the support and endorsement of all stakeholders.

CoM president, Mxolisi Mgojo, said: “We welcome the President’s intervention, and his commitment to engaging meaningfully with stakeholders in the industry – and others – on a New Mining Charter. Ultimately, a New Mining Charter must be developed and resolved through negotiation, with representation by a broad range of stakeholders – government, business, labour and communities. For the CoM, and the industry, legal recourse was always a last resort, intended to get the parties to the table, and the sooner we do that the better for the industry and our country.”