en.Wedoany.com Reported - Gwede Mantashe, Minister of the Department of Mineral Resources and Petroleum (DMPR), reported to Parliament on June 3 that the new online mining license system (Mining Rights Registration System) has been migrated and confirmed operational in the Western Cape, with applications being received and processed online.
During his presentation on Budget Vote No. 34 to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Mantashe stated that the migration from the old system to the new platform has been completed in the Western Cape, and implementation is now progressing to other regions. He noted that lessons learned from the Western Cape will help accelerate the system's nationwide rollout.
Regarding legislative reforms, the Mineral Resources Development Bill is being amended to incorporate stakeholder input. Once all processes, including legal certification, are completed, the bill will be submitted to Cabinet for approval, followed by parliamentary consideration, expected within the three months ending September 30.
One of the strategic pillars of the South African government in the global critical minerals economy is geoscience mapping and exploration. Through an integrated multidisciplinary geoscience mapping program, the national onshore mapping coverage has increased from less than 5% in 2019 to a cumulative 20% in the 2025/26 fiscal year.
The Junior Mining Exploration Fund has funded 13 exploration projects. Among these, results from the first drilling project (located in Bothaville, targeting rare earth elements and associated minerals) are being interpreted; the second project (located in Giyani, targeting copper, nickel, and gold) is nearing completion.
Despite prevailing global economic pressures, South Africa's mining industry has demonstrated resilience. In 2025, the total gross value added of South Africa's mining sector reached ZAR 477 billion, accounting for an estimated 6.3% of the country's GDP. Mining royalty payments to the fiscus totaled ZAR 11.8 billion, an 11% increase from ZAR 10.6 billion in 2024. Mining export revenue for primary minerals reached ZAR 649 billion, up from ZAR 586 billion in 2024.
Last month, a highlight in the implementation of Social and Labor Plans was the handover of a new four-lane bridge in Steilpiet by mining companies, replacing a century-old single-lane bridge. The Minister stated that the bridge is a physical symbol of mining companies pooling resources to jointly build infrastructure that no single entity could accomplish independently.
For the 2026/27 fiscal year, the Department of Mineral Resources and Petroleum has been allocated ZAR 2.86 billion, of which ZAR 1.17 billion will be transferred to public entities and strategic projects. Operational allocations include: ZAR 70.46 million for the South African Diamond and Precious Metals Regulator, ZAR 94.98 million for the Petroleum Agency South Africa, ZAR 666.9 million for the Council for Geoscience, ZAR 328.7 million for Mintek, and ZAR 4.89 million for the Mine Health and Safety Council. Specific project allocations include: ZAR 23.48 million for the Mine Rehabilitation Research Project, ZAR 140.87 million for the Derelict and Ownerless Mines Project, ZAR 48.1 million for the Shale Gas Implementation Project, ZAR 33.83 million for the Mine Water Ingress Project, and ZAR 31.12 million for the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Project.
This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com
