Mineral Resources
Vote: Venue: Date: Speaker:
29 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 7 MAY 2015 DEIDRE CARTER
MINERAL RESOURCES Speaker, The mandate of the Department is to ensure equitable access to and the sustainable development of mineral resources. It must also the transparent and efficient regulation of the mineral resources and mineral industry. The words “equitable”, “sustainable”, “transparent” and “efficient” all relate to democracy and rule of law. However, with corruption as rampant as it is, do any of these words have purchase in our country? Are mining licences available on bribing the
political elite? What is the truth behind Goldfield’s “bribe” of R25 million worth of shares to Ms Baleka Mbete? Is that how mining licences are granted by the department? We want the truth. If corruption is the order of the day and rule of law is debased, it is the hard working miners in our country who will lose out on income, housing, bursaries and so on. Do the top echelons of the ruling party have to be bribed to get licences? In 2014 / 15 200 mining rights and permits were granted / issued to historically disadvantaged South Africans per. Are the licence holders card carrying members of the ruling party? Who are they?
Page 2 of 6
The Department is mandated to promote decent employment through inclusive economic growth. However, production of gold for example, which until recently averaged 1 000 tonnes per annum, has now fallen to just above 160 tonnes. In 1993, gold contributed 3.8% to GDP. Two years ago, this had declined to 1.7% of GDP. In 1980, gold accounted for 67.0% of all mineral sales. Last year, gold accounted for only 12.5%. Is the government doing enough to ensure that gold mining remains in good health? Is government doing enough to ensure that mining as a whole is promoted to create sustainable jobs? Is the department really fulfilling its mandate?
Page 3 of 6
The NDP stresses the importance of a stable regulatory framework in the mining sector. Too many rules and too many uncertainties cause investors to hold back. Many corporates in South Africa are sitting on vast reserves. They are unwilling to invest because of lack of certainty and corruption. Will the Minister tell us exactly how the Department is implementing the NDP. How many decent employment opportunities did the department create? What has it done to create an effective, competitive and responsive economic infrastructure? Stating goals in the ENE without achieving those goals is a waste of everyone’s time and efforts. Minister, tell us exactly how the NDP was implemented, to the extent that the Page 4 of 6
Department is responsible for, and what were the outcomes. That is what we want to know. COPE welcomes the SADC collaboration in developing a comprehensive mineral beneficiation action plan to facilitate the expansion of beneficiation initiatives. This is long overdue. We wait to see the outcome. In recent years, we have seen negative growth in mining because of lower investments, lower production and labour unrest. The Department must resolve these issues to help stimulate growth in the economy. To the Deputy Minister, it would be adviseable for you to communicate with Page 5 of 6
the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries as the “success story” you portray on Ncera is in fact a disaster! DAFF decided to close Ncera down, how can you state that it is a success and how can you even consider to roll it out Nationally?!! Then, Minister, I said this before and I repeat … We have seen so many Gates, umongts others, the Travel Gate, the Gupta Gate, Nkandla Gate and I am sure, if we investigate, we will uncover the MINING GATE!
Page 6 of 6
29 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 7 MAY 2015 DEIDRE CARTER
MINERAL RESOURCES Speaker, The mandate of the Department is to ensure equitable access to and the sustainable development of mineral resources. It must also the transparent and efficient regulation of the mineral resources and mineral industry. The words “equitable”, “sustainable”, “transparent” and “efficient” all relate to democracy and rule of law. However, with corruption as rampant as it is, do any of these words have purchase in our country? Are mining licences available on bribing the
political elite? What is the truth behind Goldfield’s “bribe” of R25 million worth of shares to Ms Baleka Mbete? Is that how mining licences are granted by the department? We want the truth. If corruption is the order of the day and rule of law is debased, it is the hard working miners in our country who will lose out on income, housing, bursaries and so on. Do the top echelons of the ruling party have to be bribed to get licences? In 2014 / 15 200 mining rights and permits were granted / issued to historically disadvantaged South Africans per. Are the licence holders card carrying members of the ruling party? Who are they?
Page 2 of 6
The Department is mandated to promote decent employment through inclusive economic growth. However, production of gold for example, which until recently averaged 1 000 tonnes per annum, has now fallen to just above 160 tonnes. In 1993, gold contributed 3.8% to GDP. Two years ago, this had declined to 1.7% of GDP. In 1980, gold accounted for 67.0% of all mineral sales. Last year, gold accounted for only 12.5%. Is the government doing enough to ensure that gold mining remains in good health? Is government doing enough to ensure that mining as a whole is promoted to create sustainable jobs? Is the department really fulfilling its mandate?
Page 3 of 6
The NDP stresses the importance of a stable regulatory framework in the mining sector. Too many rules and too many uncertainties cause investors to hold back. Many corporates in South Africa are sitting on vast reserves. They are unwilling to invest because of lack of certainty and corruption. Will the Minister tell us exactly how the Department is implementing the NDP. How many decent employment opportunities did the department create? What has it done to create an effective, competitive and responsive economic infrastructure? Stating goals in the ENE without achieving those goals is a waste of everyone’s time and efforts. Minister, tell us exactly how the NDP was implemented, to the extent that the Page 4 of 6
Department is responsible for, and what were the outcomes. That is what we want to know. COPE welcomes the SADC collaboration in developing a comprehensive mineral beneficiation action plan to facilitate the expansion of beneficiation initiatives. This is long overdue. We wait to see the outcome. In recent years, we have seen negative growth in mining because of lower investments, lower production and labour unrest. The Department must resolve these issues to help stimulate growth in the economy. To the Deputy Minister, it would be adviseable for you to communicate with Page 5 of 6
the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries as the “success story” you portray on Ncera is in fact a disaster! DAFF decided to close Ncera down, how can you state that it is a success and how can you even consider to roll it out Nationally?!! Then, Minister, I said this before and I repeat … We have seen so many Gates, umongts others, the Travel Gate, the Gupta Gate, Nkandla Gate and I am sure, if we investigate, we will uncover the MINING GATE!
Page 6 of 6
