Remarks by the Honourable Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Mr Gwede Mantashe on the occasion of the handover of the Rearata Primary School

Programme Director

Premier of the Northern Cape Province, Dr Zamani Saul

Minister of Basic Education, Mrs Angie Motshekga

Acting Vice President of Operations at South32, Mr Barry Bezuidenhout

Members of the Northern Cape Executive Council and Mayors

Directors General, Team DMRE and all government officials

The Executive Management of South32 and all staff members

Principal of the Rearata Primary School, and the SGB members

Members of the Community

Members of the media

Ladies and gentlemen

This is an important day in the life of mining communities in South Africa and for the people of Vergenoeg as the social dividends of economic activity are delivered.

Occasions like these, attest that we need to strengthen our efforts and ensure that the country exploit its natural resources for the benefit of all the people of South Africa.

We need investment in exploration, which is the lifeblood of mining, for such benefits to continue accruing to the people of South Africa. Continued and enhanced mining exploration will result in more mining licences and Social and Labour Plans for the benefit of communities. It is in this regard that we welcome the approval by cabinet of the exploration strategy for the mining industry in South Africa.

The Northern Cape Province is endowed with a variety of natural resources including minerals of the future such as manganese, copper, rare earth metals, diamonds, iron, lithium, fluorspar and zinc. These minerals will play a pivotal role in the just energy transition to a low-carbon future. However, the Province has not been fully explored. Investments in this regard are needed for us to continue building a growing, globally competitive and transformed mining sector.

We are gathered here today to officially handover the Rearata Primary School to the Department of Basic Education and the community of Vergenoeg. The reconstruction of the school was funded by South32 Hotazel Manganese Mines as part of its Social and Labour Plan (SLP). This is the social dividend of mining.

The SLP is in essence a social license for mining companies to continue mining in our country, whilst coexisting with the communities they operate in. It is regulated through the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) and the Mining Charter. These legislative instruments seek to ensure that mining companies plough back into the communities they operate in, and in the labour sending areas. It is, therefore, critical for the Department to enforce obligations on the implementation of SLPs. We cannot fail our communities in this regard.

SLPs must address priority development areas as indicated by the communities themselves. We have made a call to mining companies to pull their resources together to build impactful projects. These should be projects that will significantly change the way of living and develop communities. Moreover, these SLPs must be integrated into the municipal integrated development plans.

It is pleasing to note that the community of Vergenoeg prioritised the reconstruction of the school. The school was previously in a very poor condition, as it exposed learners and teachers to the detrimental effects of asbestos. Exposure to asbestos increases the risk of asbestosis and other non-malignant lung and pleural disorders. This project will ensure that the health of teachers, learners and the community is not adversely affected. I have no doubt that this school will go a long way towards improving the livelihoods of children of this area.

As stated earlier, the Northern Cape is endowed with abundant minerals and minerals of the future. The occurrence of these minerals is widespread across the province. These mineral resources can help catapult the provincial economy into a major contributor to the national GDP.

We, therefore, expect to see more developments of this nature going forward as mining in this province increases its share.

Allow me to say, although the school is handed over to the Department of Basic Education, it belongs to the community. We, therefore, urge the people of Vergenoeg to protect this facility against vandalism and criminal elements. We entrust this state-of-the-art school not only to the management and School Governing Body but, to the community as a whole. It is incumbent upon the members of the community to value this infrastructure addition to the area. We believe that no discontent of any kind shall ever be a justifiable excuse to destroy this important facility. We cannot jeopardise the future of our children when we address other pressing needs. To protect the rights of our children to learn, the community must stand together and protect the school.

Conclusion

The Department in collaboration with the Provincial government is today concluding a two (2) day mining investment conference in Kimberley. We chose this province because we believe that - together with Limpopo and the North-West - these provinces constitute new frontiers in South Africa’s mining sector. They can become the headquarters of mining in South Africa today and in the future.

We are talking to investors to put more money into these provinces so that we can create jobs and grow the economy of our nation. These provinces are the future of mining in South Africa. Mining has led the economic recovery of this country and yet again proven its strong potential as a sunrise industry. Mining is the flywheel of our economy and a key contributor to realising our Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan. The Green Economy also is heavily dependent on what is mined here in this province.

We will not tire until the people of this province maximally and meaningfully benefit from the mineral resources beneath the soil.

I urge the learners present here today and the youth of this province to consider pursuing career opportunities in the mining sector.

I thank you.

Source: Government of South Africa