Minister Gwede Mantashe will lead the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources in providing inputs 
as he addresses the second leg of the South African Human Rights Commission’s National Inquiry into 
artisanal mining and its human rights impact on Tuesday, 3rd February 2026.
The first leg of the Inquiry was held from 1 - 3 October 2025, during which the Commission received written 
submissions and oral testimony from mine-affected communities; civil society organisations; and several 
government departments, including the South African Police Service and the Department of Minerals and 
Petroleum Resources. However, owing the unavailability of certain key stakeholders and the need to hear 
further evidence, the Commission resolved to conduct a second leg of the inquiry.
Following the October 2025 hearings, the Commission will hear further evidence from key stakeholders, 
among others, SAPS, the Minerals Council South Africa, COSATMA, the DMPR, the Department of Social 
Development, Buffelsfontein Mine, the Department of Small Business Development, and the South African 
National Defence Force (SANDF). The proceedings can be followed live on the Commission’s social media 
platforms.

Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the Minister’s address as follows:

Dates: 03 February 2026
Time: 08h30
Venue: South African Human Rights Commission Head Office, Sentinel House, Sunnyside Office 
Park, 32 Princess Wales Terrace, Park Town, Johannesburg
To RSVP, please contact:
Johannes Mokobane – Johannes.mokobane@dmpr.gov.za / mediadesk@dmpr.gov.za; 08766 3674
For media enquiries: 
Ms Lerato Ntsoko – Lerato.ntsoko@dmpr.gov.za / mediadesk@dmpr.gov.za/ 082 459 2788
Ms Yolanda Mhlathi - Yolanda.Mhlathi@dmpr.gov.za / 067 258 1122
Issued by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources