Modern Mining June 2023

have an interesting artisanal mining project in the Northern Cape, which we are using as a case study. We will extrapolate and incorporate our learnings into a report to the DMRE. In this way, we take a pro active step rather than a reactive stance.” Additionally, the JEMD and its team of experts are evaluating the legalities related to the ASM policy, an example being the proposal that mining majors make land available to artisanal miners on what has traditionally been their mining right area. “This is an important topic for discussion, given that it has several implications on mining rights. For example, how do you acquire a mining right for arti sanal miners operating on a mining right already held by a mining major? There are questions around who’s responsible for liabilities associated with land rehabilitation and health and the safety of ASM staff, amongst others. The JEMD is busy finalising a research study on these issues and will present a paper on our findings later this year to the DMRE,” says Mitchell. “For the South African mining industry to grow, we need to get back to basics and ensure there is political and social stability, a working cadastral system that ensures mining and prospecting rights are handled efficiently in a transparent manner, and that we deal effectively with our power and logistics

challenges. Moreover, we need to have a tax incen tive system for exploration and policies that attract investment into mining. Importantly, we need to address issues related to community unrest and criminality as these are negatively affecting invest ment perceptions. Once we sort out the majority of our challenges, the industry will finally be able to capitalise on numerous opportunities,” concludes Mitchell. 

Platinum has been a top revenue earner for the junior mining sector at R19.6 billion in 2022.

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