South Africa reviews mining laws to strengthen penalties

Saturday, 27 Aug 2011

Reuters reported that South African government is reviewing its mining law to strengthen the penalty provisions for non compliance of the mining charter, which aims to transfer ownership to previously excluded blacks.

Mr Andre Andreas, director of mineral policy development at the Department of Mineral Resources, told parliament that "We are looking at beefing up the penalty provisions that may be imposed on mining companies for non compliance to serve as a deterrent and to ensure there is greater compliance."

Parliament is conducting public hearings on the charter, which aims at transforming the mining industry by transferring 26% of the key sector into black hands by 2014.

(sourced from Reuters)