South Africa’s Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, has called on African countries to deepen cooperation and present a united front in response to rising global uncertainty and intensifying competition for natural resources. He made the appeal on Monday at the opening of the
Investing in Africa Mining Indaba in Cape Town.
Addressing African leaders, industry players and investors, Mantashe warned that heightened geopolitical tensions — driven largely by developed economies seeking greater control over the resources of developing nations — pose a direct threat to the sovereignty of resource-rich African States.
He said the Indaba’s theme, “Stronger Together: Progress Through Partnerships”, should be treated as a strategic imperative rather than a slogan. The Minister highlighted the African Ministers’ Critical Minerals Roundtable, held with the African Union on the sidelines of the Indaba, as a vehicle to strengthen continental leadership on critical minerals.
He said Africa’s collective objective is to move beyond extraction towards industrialisation and value addition closer to the point of production.
Turning to South Africa, Mantashe announced that a comprehensive study on the state of the mining sector and the development of the country’s Critical Minerals Strategy have been completed, with implementation now underway. He said the strategy aligns with the G20 declaration and positions both
South Africa and the continent to assert greater control over strategic resources.
He reaffirmed Government’s commitment to a more predictable and transparent regulatory Framework that attracts investment while ensuring equitable sharing of mineral wealth. On the removal of mandatory Black Economic Empowerment participation at the prospecting stage, Mantashe stressed this was a pragmatic step to stimulate high-risk exploration, not a retreat from transformation.
The Minister reported early signs of recovery in the sector, including the opening of at least five mines, and disclosed that 358 prospecting rights and 32 mining rights were granted between February 2025 and January 2026, signalling sustained investor confidence in South Africa’s mining industry.