Draft legislation aimed at overhauling the registration of mining titles and setting up a central office for all mining and prospecting rights was unanimously approved by the National Assembly on Thursday.
The Mining Titles Amendment Bill seeks to bring registration in line with the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act of 2002, which transferred control of mineral rights to the state.
Deputy Minerals and Energy Affairs Minister Susan Shabangu told Parliament the Bill represented another milestone in the transformation of the mining and minerals industry in South Africa.
It would allow the conversion and registration of old order rights to new order rights, in accordance with the new Act.
”It is critical that the process of migration from the old mining regulatory dispensation to the new one should take place in a seamless and orderly manner.
”[The Bill] therefore, is a necessary supporting leg to bring about and give effect to this transformation process,” she said.
Without the new arrangements, old order rights will effectively be cancelled in terms of conversion provisions in the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act.
Shabangu said the Bill also aimed to establish a central point for the registration and recording of all mineral and mining titles, and to create a central mineral and petroleum deeds and information service.
It further provided for the simultaneous registration and de-registration of rights at the departments of minerals and energy and land affairs, and guaranteed the continued registration and existence of rights, she said.
The measure will now be referred to the National Council of Provinces. – Sapa