Mining Technology and the Future of Compliance: What It Means for South Africa’s Industry
Today’s mining sector is not just about extraction; it’s about doing more with less, ensuring cleaner, safer, and more cost-effective operations. At a webinar hosted by Creamer Media’s Engineering & Mining Weekly, industry leaders highlighted how technology is transforming blasting, water usage, tailings management, energy efficiency, and safety in South Africa’s mines. Key Insights Adoption […]
South Africa’s Critical Minerals Strategy: A New Mining Frontier
South Africa has taken a decisive step in shaping its economic and industrial future with the Cabinet approval of the Critical Minerals and Metals Strategy (“Strategy”) in May 2025. In the words of the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, the Strategy is is a call to action for government, business, and communities to work […]
South Africa’s New Mining Cadastre: A Critical Evaluation Of SAMRAD’s Failings And The Road To Reform
Overview South Africa’s mining industry has long been constrained by an inefficient and opaque mineral rights administration system. The South African Mineral Resources Administration System (“SAMRAD”), launched in 2011, was intended to be a digital solution for managing mineral applications. Instead, it has become a symbol of dysfunction, plagued by delays, corruption allegations, and backlogs […]
Incoming Mineral Law Developments In South Africa: The 2025 Mineral Resources Development Bill
Introduction On 20 May 2025, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy published the Draft Mineral Resources Development Bill, 2025 (“Bill”) for public comment. The Bill proposes comprehensive amendment of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (“MPRDA”). Key themes of the Bill include the formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining, proactive enforcement measures, […]
Proactive Compliance Required: What the 2025 Draft Dust Control Amendment Regulations Mean for Mining Companies
OVERVIEW On 16 May 2025, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment published the Draft National Dust Control Amendment Regulations (“2025 Draft Dust Control Regulations”) under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 39 of 2004, as amended. Once finalised, these regulations will repeal and replace the 2013 National Dust Control Regulations (GNR 827 […]
US Tariffs and the South African Mining Industry: Trade Friction and Sector Risk
INTRODUCTION On 2 April 2025, US President Donald Trump announced a sweeping 30% import tariff on a wide range of foreign goods, including several mineral commodities. While some of South Africa’s key mineral exports have been spared, others face serious exposure, threatening demand, investment, and global economic stability. Key stakeholders in mining, such as the […]
Is Expenditure Incurred in Terms of a Mine Work Programme Tax Deductible: Lessons From Sishen Iron Ore Company (Pty) Ltd v CSARS (550/2023) [2025] ZASCA 16 (5 March 2025)
THE UNDERLYING STATUTORY FRAMEWORK The Income Tax Act, 58 of 1962, as amended (“ITA”) specially permits mines to deduct certain expenditure of a capital nature from their income as they derive their income from mining operations. Furthermore, a mine may generally deduct expenditure incurred in the production of income provided that such expenditure is not […]
The Implications for Enforcing Municipal Planning Compliance on South African Mining Operations
THE UNDERLYING PRINCIPLE Municipal planning plays a crucial role in South Africa’s urban and rural development framework. The Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act, 16 of 2013, as amended (“SPLUMA”) aims to create a uniform regulatory system for land use planning across the country. However, recently the Constitutional Court in Govan Mbeki Local Municipality […]
The Legal and Strategic Implications of the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ) for Decision Makers
The Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (“MMSEZ”) represents one of South Africa’s most ambitious industrial development initiatives, strategically located in Limpopo near the Zimbabwean border. Comprising two distinct sites, one focusing on light manufacturing and logistics and the other on heavy industry, the MMSEZ is designed to drive economic growth and attract significant investment. However, its […]
Mining in the Mabola Protected Environment: Strategic and Legal Insights for Sustainable Decision-Making
The Mabola Protected Environment, located in Mpumalanga, South Africa, is a protected area critical to national biodiversity and water security. Its designation under the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, 57 of 2003 (“NEMPAA”) prohibits mining activities without the written permission of the Environment Minister (“the Minister”), underscoring the importance of safeguarding this ecologically sensitive […]