Why South Africa is losing its mining investment appeal

Mining MX the South African mining industry journal published its 2022 edition of the Mining Yearbook recently. For many years, this publication produced in conjunction with leading business weeklies is the holy grail for stakeholders in the mining industry with a particular interest in South Africa and the region. This year’s publication is freely available on the Mining MX website. The 2022 edition ran under the theme “Rock Bottom: Why South African Mining cannot risk more Mantashe blunders”. The theme is a harsh though factual indictment on the effect of government policy on the mining industry personified by the current minister of mines and former communist Gwede Mantashe. South Africa owes its existence as a nation to its mining industry which remains one of its largest contributors to its GDP. Mining MX published its annual Mining Year Book which shoed that mining investment in South Africa is on the decline. Mining investment however, been gradually on the decline in South Africa relative to other mining destinations like Australia which consistently attracts the most in terms of mining investment in exploration and development Mining MX reports. Minister Mantashe is reputed to have a very thin skin and is not hesitant to