South Africa: development of a new mineral policy

In the light of the recent political changes there, South Africa has embarked on a process of developing a new mineral policy. The positions before and immediately after the political changes are outlined in their historical context as a prelude to a discussion of the completed process in relation to health and safety at mines, and the ongoing uncompleted process in relation to other issues. The latter process and the relevant issues are discussed at the stage reached in the process at time of writing of this article. Such issues include background issues (safety and health, training, education, investment climate, taxation, electricity and transport, competition and ownership, industrial relations and employment), the business environment (research and development, beneficiation, mineral marketing, administration and regulation), human resources (eliminating residual racism, housing, downscaling, and migrant labour), environmental issues and surface use, regional issues (national and provincial powers, and Southern African regional issues), small-scale and artisanal mining, and mineral tenure (mineral rights, optimal exploitation, access to exploration information, access to information relating to mineral right holdings, and trust lands). Conclusions are offered in relation to the degree of consensus reached, the issue of mineral tenure followed by that of downscaling being identified as the most controversial. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.