Central Rand Gold has been temporarily allowed to resume operations after its mining licence was cancelled last month, according to a newspaper report on Tuesday.
“Acting on legal advice we received from our lawyers, we decided to give them temporary relief until there is a decision on their appeal,” mineral resources department spokesperson Bheki Khumalo told Business Day.
The decision was taken by Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu on Monday.
“We are very grateful for the maturity the department has shown in suspending its decision to cancel our mining licence,” Central Rand Gold chief executive officer Johan du Toit told the newspaper.
The mining licence was suspended in September for violation of social, labour plans and environmental commitments.
Central Rand Gold lodged papers in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria earlier this month to give notice that it would apply for a court order to set aside the revocation of the mining licence or to suspend it.
It said it could not survive the 12 to 18 months it would take to appeal against the department’s decision.
However, Khumalo told the newspaper the department would contest the mining company’s appeal. — Sapa