The Minerals Council South Africa welcomes a new service provider for the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy’s (DMRE) cadastral system. This marks a key step in reviving the country’s mining sector, particularly in exploration and development.
The Minerals Council SA has backed the DMRE’s choice of a new consortium to develop a mineral rights system. This move comes after years of lobbying against the outdated SAMRAD system, introduced in 2011. The Council views this as a crucial step to boost South Africa’s global exploration share, currently less than 1%.
“The new cadastre will speed up the processing of applications for prospecting and mining rights,” says Mzila Mthenjane, CEO of the Minerals Council. He believes this change will lead to more investment and growth in mining. The Council estimates a backlog of over 3,000 rights could unlock over R30 billion in investment, creating many jobs, especially in rural areas.
The Council stresses the need for a system that can compete globally. This will help grow the sector, bring in new players, and create wealth in SA. Mthenjane points out, “This is vital as the world focuses on critical minerals, which South Africa has in abundance.”
The PMG Consortium includes Pacific GeoTech Systems from Canada, South Africa’s women-led Gemini GIS, and the MITS Institute. They bring a mix of local and international expertise to the project.
The Minerals Council SA’s support for the DMRE’s new cadastral system signals a positive shift in the mining industry. This initiative aims to streamline mining rights processing, boost exploration activities, and open up economic opportunities, particularly in the field of critical minerals and new technologies.
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