/ 4 February 2003

SA govt to partner with mine sector

The South African government will continue working in partnership with the mining industry and other stakeholders to ensure that the principles and values of the new mining legislation are upheld, Minister of Minerals and Energy, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, said in a statement.

Mlambo-Ngcuka was clarifying comments by Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) director, Jacinto Rocha, at the Minerals Development conference held on January 29, which created a misconception regarding the implementation of the new Minerals and Petroleum Development Act.

The government had built good working relations with all stakeholders in the mining industry in the process of developing the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act, Mlambo-Ngcuka said.

Furthermore, she said the finalisation of the mining charter and the subsequent international road shows, cemented this healthy relationship between government and all stakeholders.

The DME had identified key constraints and developed detailed plans with resource allocations to ensure efficient implementation of the new law, Mlambo-Ngcuka said. – I-Net-Bridge