South Africa's artisanal miners want stake in critical minerals boom
One of them is Mooi Masuku, an artisanal coal miner of 17 years, who says a new bill to legalise informal mining is key to protecting and creating jobs, particularly as critical minerals are eyed for green technologies.
'In South Africa, I think the government will begin to see why it should legalise [artisanal mining] to protect these jobs,' said Masuku, sitting on a concrete slab outside his home in the Nomzamo informal settlement in the town of Ermelo.
'We want to work, and we want to work legally,' he said.
Submissions for public comment on the Mineral Resource Development Bill closed last week before awaiting parliamentary review to become law.
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