Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, has assured artisanal and small scale miners that government will continue to provide support and assistance to facilitate their growth in the mining sector.
Nkabane made the remarks as she delivered a keynote address at the inaugural Artisanal Small-Scale Miners and Emerging Miners Symposium hosted by Mintek in Randburg on Thursday.
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“As part of government’s efforts to grow a globally competitive and transformed mining sector, the department…introduced the artisanal and small-scale mining policy in 2002. At the core of this mining policy is the need for all stakeholders to collaborate and work together on the training and development of artisanal and small-scale miners to mine the marginal deposits that are considered less valuable by large mining companies,” she said.
The Minister also highlighted that some 21 companies have been shortlisted to receive funding from the department, designated to assist with financial provision for rehabilitation and capital equipment, and that a R400 million exploration fund has been launched to assist in exploration and discoveries and increase junior miners, amongst others.
She emphasised that it is the duty of the industry and organisations like Mintek and government to ensure that the mining sector is transformed.
“All of us here should ask ourselves what legacy are we going to leave. If we don’t want to be part of transforming the sector, who else is going to do that because we are given that responsibility of transforming the sector.
“How are we going to do it? We must support small scale and artisanal miners. It should not be the responsibility of a single person; it should be our responsibility. The fact of the matter is that our current development will be spearheaded by [Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises] including the artisanal and small-scale miners,” she maintained.
