Master of Ceremonies,
Organisers of the Africa Down Under Conference
Heads of States, Ministers, and Deputy Ministers
Captains of Industries
Distinguished Guests
Members of the Media
Allow me at the outset to extend our sincere gratitude to the organisers for inviting us once again to participate in this year’s Africa Down Under (ADU) Conference.
This platform continues to affirm itself as a premier forum for dialogue on Africa’s mining sector, and a bridge that connects investors from across the globe with the opportunities that lie within our continent.
This conference is particularly important because it is hosted outside of Africa, yet it focuses squarely on Africa’s mineral wealth and the opportunities that this wealth presents. It, therefore, provides us with a unique opportunity to engage directly with partners and investors beyond our borders, to share perspectives, and to strengthen both government-to-government and business-to-business relations between Africa and Australia.
This year’s conference also offers us the opportunity to reflect on the commitments made during last year’s deliberations, to report on the progress we have made, and to highlight new opportunities for collaboration. This is especially crucial given that more than one hundred (100) Australian companies are currently active in mining projects across the African continent. For them, and indeed for new entrants, the ADU conference is a vital space to align strategies and foster partnerships.
Ladies and gentlemen, those who attended last year’s conference will recall that Minister Gwede Mantashe spoke extensively about the comprehensive study we had embarked upon regarding the State of Mining in South Africa and the development of our Critical Minerals Strategy.
I am pleased to report today that this work has been completed by Mintek, in close collaboration with industry stakeholders. The outcome is not only a policy framework, but a practical and workable strategy designed to ensure that South Africa harnesses its mineral wealth to drive sustainable growth, innovation, and global competitiveness.
The study covered twenty-one (21) commodity areas, providing us with a clear picture of South Africa’s mineral endowment. The strategy sets out a bold vision for our country by defining our position on critical minerals, mapping out a strategic overview, and detailing the pillars and interventions required for its successful implementation.
Although there is no universal definition of critical minerals, the strategy has defined them as “minerals that are essential for the overall economic development, job creation, industrial advancement, and contribution to national security”. Guided by this principle, our strategy ensures that these minerals are not only exploited, but are also channelled towards supporting industrialisation, sustainable resource management, and meeting the growing global demand.
Following careful assessment, our strategy has classified minerals into different levels of criticality.
Platinum, manganese, iron ore, coal, and chrome are high-criticality minerals.
Gold, vanadium, palladium, rhodium, and rare earth elements fall into the moderate-to-high category.
Copper, cobalt, lithium, graphite, nickel, titanium, phosphate, fluorspar, zirconium, uranium, and aluminium are classified as moderately critical.
It is important to note that this list will constantly be reviewed as markets shift, technologies advance, and geopolitical considerations come into play.
The strategy presents a framework comprising a wide range of crosscutting, critical mining-specific and sector-specific interventions to optimise the broad range of economic benefits, by concentrating on the following pillars:
The fact remains that, Africa holds a far greater share of global mineral reserves than it does of global production. This gap underscores the continent’s untapped potential. By prioritising exploration and resource discovery, South Africa and Africa at large can reclaim a leading position in the global minerals landscape.
We are already seeing progress. For instance, Orion Minerals is redeveloping copper deposits in Copperton and Okiep in the Northern Cape.
Notwithstanding this progress, we also recognise the urgent need for investment in greenfield exploration, particularly in minerals that are fundamental to the low-carbon future. To this end, our Junior Exploration Fund has begun yielding results. Eight (8) exploration projects have already benefited from its first funding call, and some have advanced to early fieldwork, geophysical surveys, and drilling. A second funding call, with a specific focus on critical minerals, will be announced soon.
As a top 30 trading partner for Australia, with mining forming the backbone of our economic relationship, South Africa remains a preferred investment destination.
Value addition and localisation present immense opportunities for mutual benefit. By investing in beneficiation closer to the source, we can ensure that Africa does not remain merely a supplier of raw minerals but also becomes a producer of high-value goods, thereby contribute to resilient and competitive global supply chains.
To advance local beneficiation, we are working to address the constraints such as electricity tariffs for the ferroalloys sector, regulatory uncertainty, and infrastructure bottlenecks. Our objective is simple: to create an environment where investment is attractive, predictable, and mutually beneficial.
Australian companies such as Rio Tinto, South32, MC Mining, Jupiter Mines, Orion Minerals, and Theta Gold are already valuable partners in our mining industry. Their continued presence demonstrates confidence in our sector, and we are determined to ensure that this confidence is rewarded through policy certainty, inclusive growth, and shared prosperity.
In pursuit of this enabling environment, we have taken significant steps to modernise our regulatory framework. Following the publication of the Mineral Resources Development (MRD) Bill in May this year, we concluded a sixty-day (60) public comment period. This marked a critical milestone towards a comprehensive review of our regulatory system.
Through extensive consultation with industry and communities, we are confident that the outcome will deliver a framework that is transparent, predictable, and investment-friendly, while also ensuring that the benefits of our mineral wealth are equitably shared.
Equally important is the modernisation of our mineral resource management systems. As reported during last year’s conference, we are introducing a transparent and efficient licensing system. Despite hurdles, the phased rollout will begin in earnest this year, starting with the Western Cape, and expanding progressively to other provinces.
Distinguished delegates, our message is clear. South Africa is open for business. We are committed to building a mining sector that is globally competitive, environmentally responsible, and socially inclusive. We believe that with the support of partners such as Australia, we can unlock the full potential of Africa’s mineral wealth for the benefit of our people and the world at large.
I thank you.