Whilst his words are encouraging, it's his actions that he will...

Whilst his words are encouraging, it's his actions that he will be judged on:

Two critical issues bedevilling regulatory certainty are Mining Charter III (the subject of litigation) and the MPRDA Amendment Bill which has been before parliament for 5 years now.  President Ramaphosa made it clear that the Mining Charter III impasse must be resolved out of court and that the MPRDA Amendment Bill must be finalised.  I am confident that Minister Mantashe has the ability to drive these processes to bring about an empowerment charter which has the support of the industry, labour and government.

President Ramaphosa's call for finalisation of the MPRDA Amendment Bill is a further welcome development, considering that the process has been dragging for the past five years.  There are various concerns around the bill in its current form, such as proposed tender for application of rights to prospect and mine, as well as the proposed export licensing regime.  These issues have been a sword hanging over the heads of the mining industry, feared by investors.  Not only do we need Mining Charter III and the MPRDA Amendment Bill finalised but we need them finalised in a manner that will foster investment, and its effects - economic growth, job creation and eradication of poverty.