Latest news with #GwedeMantashe
The Citizen
a day ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Political favour not a factor in appointing Mantashe's son
Higher Education Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkadimeng has denied claims of political interference in recent Seta board appointments. Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, has denied allegations that political connections influenced the appointment of individuals to leadership positions within the Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas) — including the son of ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe and a former Mpumalanga premier. Speaking during a presentation to parliament's portfolio committee on higher education on Friday, Nkabane stressed that the selection of chairpersons for Seta boards was grounded in legal compliance and merit-based evaluation. 'No candidate was given any preference or suffered any prejudice due to political affiliation or association with any political party,' she said, citing the constitutional right to freedom of association and political choice. From nomination to backlash The minister's remarks followed a firestorm of public criticism over the initial appointments, particularly after it emerged that Gwede Mantashe's son, Buyambo Mantashe, and former Mpumalanga premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane were among those recommended. According to the minister, the process began with a public call for nominations in November 2024. This was outlined in Government Gazette 51625. A selection and evaluation panel reportedly reviewed more than 500 candidates, assessing them against criteria such as leadership experience, qualifications (minimum NQF Level 8), and demographic representation. Nkabane stated that, following consultation with the National Skills Authority (NSA), the panel's recommendations were forwarded to the minister on 6 May 2025. She said the NSA responded with an advisory note supporting the appointments on 8 May. However, days later, outrage followed the revelation of politically linked appointees. ALSO READ: Department scrambles to fix curriculum chaos at Gauteng school after delayed start Reopening the process Acknowledging the backlash, Nkabane confirmed she had reopened the process. A new call for nominations was issued on 23 May and will remain open until 13 June. 'Taking heed of the public call and concerns, the nomination process has since been reopened […] to afford stakeholders reasonable time,' she told MPs. The DA welcomed the withdrawal of the appointments, stating it was a necessary reversal of cadre deployment. However, the party insists the minister must still be held accountable. Parliament's portfolio committee also cautioned that the withdrawal 'does not absolve the minister' of accountability. ALSO READ: Gauteng education announces 2026 school admission dates: Here is what you need Integrity and oversight Nkabane reiterated the importance of integrity and impartiality in appointments, asserting that the process followed the Skills Development Act and the King IV governance principles. She added that consultation with the NSA does not equate to seeking approval. 'The decision to appoint the chairpersons and boards ultimately rests with the executive authority, the minister,' Nkabane explained. She reaffirmed her commitment to transparent governance, stressing that all future appointees will undergo induction to ensure they fully understand their roles and responsibilities. NOW READ: Higher Education and Nsfas vow action amid Durban student protests
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Minerals Council South Africa inputs not reflected in MRD Bill
The Mineral Resources Development Bill (MRD) does not reflect inputs from the Minerals Council South Africa. The Mineral Resources Development Bill (MRD) does not reflect inputs from the Minerals Council South Africa. These were given during brief, high-level engagements with the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources. So says its CEO Mzila Mthenjane. 'The draft bill is not altogether optimal. We did have engagements with the department, but we cannot see where our inputs were taken into consideration,' says Mthenjane. 'What we were exposed to in our two engagements was very high level, and we were not given any access to the underlying wording of what we were shown and how it was being amended,' he says. Empowerment requirements Giving an example, Mthenjane points to oft-repeated public comments by Minister Gwede Mantashe that prospecting companies were excluded from the same empowerment requirements for holders of mining rights. 'We raised this point over and over in our engagements with the department that the amendments must specifically exclude prospecting companies from empowerment requirements. Exploration is the highest risk part of the mineral value chain and imposes an unnecessary burden on prospectors who must sink every rand into drilling and data interpretation. 'Yet in this draft bill, none of that is included,' he says. The Minerals Council continues to review the Bill and will further engage the department to co-create a regulatory environment that will attract and support investment in exploration, mine development and the sustainability of existing mines to unlock the potential of South Africa's mineral resources for economic growth and job creation. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
IOL News
3 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Criticism of South Africa's new Mineral Resources Bill: A disaster in the making?
Sharp criticisms have emerged over the structure of the new Mineral Resources Bill that was gazetted for public comment last week by Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe Image: Reuters Sharp criticisms have emerged over the structure of the new Mineral Resources Bill that was gazetted for public comment last week by Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe with the DA on Wednesday saying, "The new minerals bill is a disaster in the making." This comes hot on the heels of the Minerals Council on Tuesday saying its contributions were not incorporated. Mantashe and other government officials hope that the Mineral Resources Development Bill and the Critical Minerals and Metals Strategy blueprint will help to shore up mineral exploration, spearhead SA's production of critical minerals and attract international investment into the mining sector. 'The bill is poorly thought out. It is contradictory and unclear in several places. It grants new powers to the Minister to rule the industry according to his own whim,' said James Lorimer, the DA's spokesperson on mining issues. He further said the bill will 'end the already tottering case for foreign investment' in the mining sector. Among the stipulations that the DA is opposed to is a provision requiring ministerial approval for the change of control of any listed company holding a mining licence. Lorimer also voiced out concerns over a 'vague requirement that certain minerals would have to be made available for local beneficiation' adding that there was no clarity over 'who would do the beneficiation or at what price' mines would have to make the minerals available. Mzila Mthenjane, the CEO of the Minerals Council, said the published bill 'does not reflect inputs' from the grouping of SA's mining sector players. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'The draft bill is not altogether optimal,' said Mthenjane, adding that an industry preference seeking that the legislation 'specifically exclude prospecting companies from empowerment' had not been included. 'Exploration is the highest risk part of the mineral value chain and imposes an unnecessary burden on prospectors who must sink every rand into drilling and data interpretation. Yet in this draft bill, none of that is included,' he explained. Lili Nupen, a mining policy expert who founded Johannesburg-based NSDV, told Business Report though that the bill's effectiveness will be hinged on how it is implemented. 'NSDV Law is of the view that the South African mining industry stands to benefit from the implementation of the Mineral Resources Development Bill and the Critical Minerals Strategy, if they are executed effectively and supported by consistent policy implementation,' said Nupen. She added that the Mineral Resources Bill was supposed to be representative of the South African government's recognition of investor concerns and, therefore, should be a mechanism of reforming the legal framework that governs the mining sector to address concerns. 'For example, the alignment of the mining and environmental regulatory timeframes and processes, as well as their acceleration, is directly aimed at addressing current concerns regarding the backlog of the processing and authorisation of mining projects. Similarly, the Critical Minerals Strategy provides much-needed clarity on South Africa's mineral priorities, which could guide investment decisions and support coordinated development efforts.' South Africa, a major mining hub in the region, has identified platinum, manganese, iron ore, coal, and chrome ore as 'high-critical minerals' under the new Critical Minerals and Metals Strategy.
Daily Maverick
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Industry sees red after Mantashe says no BEE for mining exploration, contradicting draft Bill
A new mist of uncertainty has shrouded mining policy just as progress is being made on other fronts such as the looming rollout of the long-awaited mining cadastre to address the applications backlog for mining and prospecting rights and permits. The draft Mineral Resources Development Bill (MRDP) has stirred a hornet's nest in the mining industry and with the ANC's GNU political partner the DA, and its ill-conceived nature was on full display on Wednesday when Minister Gwede Mantashe confusingly said the BEE requirements for exploration were not there and would be removed if they were. 'Now, and in the future, there's no provision for BEE on exploration,' Mantashe, the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (MPR), said during a media briefing at the conclusion of the AGM for the Minerals Council SA, the main body representing the country's mining industry. That's neither the Minerals Council's reading of the draft Bill nor Daily Maverick's interpretation of it. 'We raised this point over and over in our engagements with the department that the amendments must specifically exclude prospecting companies from empowerment requirements … Yet in this draft Bill, none of that is included,' Minerals Council CEO Mzila Mthenjane said in a statement on Tuesday. The thing about prospecting – or exploration – is that it is an extremely high-risk activity that onerous BEE rules will severely curtail. And without exploration, the South African mining industry has no viable long-term future. Daily Maverick asked Mantashe to clarify this afterwards and he responded by saying: 'If there is a BEE requirement in the Bill for prospecting, it must be removed.' So, the industry's complaints on this front are not falling on deaf ears, though it has raised concerns that its inputs were not included in the draft. And a new mist of uncertainty has shrouded policy just as progress is being made on other fronts such as the looming rollout of the long-awaited mining cadastre to address the applications backlog of mining and prospecting rights and permits. Overall, the industry is not happy with the Bill, which once again moves the goal posts at a time when investors are crying for certainty for a sector that remains crucial for South Africa's low-growth and high-unemployment economy. 'When we ask ourselves this question, does this Bill promote investment and create jobs, we see it has some serious short-comings,' said Paul Dunne, the CEO of Northam Platinum, who was re-elected as president of the Minerals Council SA. 'They are both substantive in nature and technical … Council is a very considered, professional advocacy group. We represent at least 99% of the mining industry in this country and our submission [on the draft Bill] will be made public when the right time comes, and we will engage very, very robustly with the department and the minister on this issue,' he said. The good-natured Dunne added: 'The minister knows us very well. We are very tough. And minister, we are coming.' That raised a chuckle from the audience and Mantashe, but it is no laughing matter – except for lawyers, who are going to giggle all the way to the bank. The draft Bill raises the almost certain prospect of arduous and time-consuming legal and court battles – another obstacle to the investment that the mining sector and wider South African economy desperately need to reach faster levels of growth and job creation. It has also raised hackles in the GNU, which is supposed to be the ANC's main governing partner. One bone of contention is embedding the Mining Charter into the legal framework, which could once again unleash the 'once empowered, always empowered' debate which the industry has already won in court. But fresh legal scraps could loom on this front. This played out in the courts when Gupta stooge Mosebenzi Zwane was the minister in charge of mining, and the term refers to the industry's contention that once a company reached a required BEE ownership threshold that should be set in stone even if black shareholders decided to sell their stakes – which is the point of owning shares. The government at the time held that mining companies needed to endlessly keep topping up BEE stakes, a state of affairs that would dilute value and repel foreign as well as domestic investment. 'By expressly including the Mining Charter as law and not simply policy, the Bill allows for the rapid overturning of t'once empowered, always empowered', opening the door to the need for constant injections of new BEE investors, a feature which would on its own make investing a lossmaking prospect,' MP James Lorimer, the DA spokesperson on Minerals and Petroleum Resources, said in a statement. 'The Bill is poorly thought out. It is contradictory and unclear in several places. It grants new powers to the Minister to rule the industry according to his own whim.' What this means More policy confusion and uncertainty at a time when South Africa needs both to extract wealth, investment and job creation from its rich minerals endowment. It will also test the GNU and likely trigger a tsunami of legal challenges for South Africa's already stretched court system. The ANC is acting like it has a two-thirds majority in Parliament on this front and has yet to be pulled back to Earth by the laws of political gravity. Mantashe on Wednesday reminded the industry of its racist past, and that is no bad thing – in an age when US President Donald Trump is parroting fascist-inspired lies about 'white genocide', hard historical truths need to be confronted head-on. The South African mining industry was the economic bedrock of apartheid, subjecting an overwhelmingly black migrant labour force to ruthless exploitation. But the times are changing and the industry – partly in response to government regulation and union demands but also wider concerns among investors foreign and domestic – has made strides from the indignities of the apartheid past on a range of fronts, including ownership, wages, communities, health and safety. BEE as a mantra has not delivered a utopia while enriching a relatively small elite, and it is also starting to look like a fossilised relic in an age when – despite the Trump administration's efforts to turn the tide – capital is largely looking for kinder, gentler returns. The Bill, for now, is not law and open to public comment. Break out the popcorn for the fireworks. DM
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: SANPC is open for business, Mantashe
The South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC) is open for business and ready for investors. The South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC) is open for business and ready for investors, says Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe This is according to the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, who delivered remarks at the official launch of SANPC in Johannesburg, on Friday. The new state-owned enterprise (SOE) is an amalgamation of PetroSA, the South African Gas Development Company (iGas) and the Strategic Fuel Fund Association. It is aimed at enhancing South Africa's energy security, reducing dependence on imported petroleum products and ensuring more effective management of the country's petroleum assets. Energy security 'The real issue is ensuring energy security in the country. In the wake of evolving global trends, including the push to shift away from fossil fuel usage, the SANPC is expected to operate in an increasingly volatile, unpredictable and polarised world. 'The local refining capacity is also quite critical. Reviving PetroSA is important, SAPREF is important and therefore, if there are people who want to partner with us… we are open for business, we are open for partnerships, and we are open for people who want to invest,' he says. The minister highlighted that the demand for fossil fuels is expected to grow, despite the 'shift in demand towards cleaner sources of energy production'. 'To this end, the SANPC is expected to oversee strategic planning, coordination, and governance of the country's petroleum resources, and thereby contribute to the country's sustainable development and inclusive economic growth. 'For the entity to generate revenue for self-sustainability and sufficiency, it must take advantage of the strategic partnerships and national capabilities in the energy industry to champion energy supply and investment in associated infrastructure,' he says. Good governance and leadership The minister emphasises the need for good governance and leadership at the SOE. 'To enable the entity to deliver on its mandate, we had to ensure good governance, and in so doing, reduce both the operational and financial risks; hence, we swiftly appointed the board of directors, an interim CEO, as well as the non-executive directors in April last year. 'Since then, tremendous work has been done in winding down the outstanding matters and getting governance arrangements going. 'For the entity to succeed, it must have a strong leadership with vision, common objectives, and the ability to develop managerial capacity. "It is equally important for all employees to foster a new culture and a sense of community that encourages collaboration and teamwork as well as transparent and honest communication. 'A task at hand for all of us is to ensure that the entity remains financially sustainable and independent in order to fulfil its developmental mandate,' Mantashe concludes.
