SOUTH AFRICA NEEDS TO BENEFIT MORE OF ITS MINERAL RESOURCES

SOUTH AFRICA NEEDS TO BENEFIT MORE OF ITS MINERAL RESOURCES

BY BRIAN KAJENGO

South African delegates attending the Mining Indaba Investment Promotion workshop in Cape Town were encouraged to beneficiate more of the country’s mineral resources in order to create jobs and drive enhanced revenue creation.

The Investment Promotion workshop was organised by the Department of Trade and industry (the dti) in conjunction with the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR).

Addressing investors and South African mining representatives during the workshop, the Chief Director of Investment Promotion at the dti, Yunus Hoosen said the push for industrialisation by government done through the beneficiation strategy and the Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP).

“Industrialisation is outlined in the country’s medium-term growth plan, the New Growth Path (NGP), which identifies mineral beneficiation as part of job drivers, and one of the six key sectors for creating five million new jobs by 2020,” said Hoosen.

Hoosen added that South Africa still export most of its minerals as semi-processed minerals rather than high value intermediate to finished products.

The Chief Executive Officer of Brand South Africa, Mr Miller Matola urged delegates to take advantage of all investment opportunities offered in the mining industry and other sectors.

“South Africa is making huge investments in skills development which will help drive the economy and create sustainable jobs,” said Matola.

Matola highlighted that South Africa, like any other country has challenges, but it is how South Africa chooses to respond to these challenges that matters.