Minerals Minister urged to make new legislative start

South Africa’s Minerals Minister Mosebenzi Zwane has been urged to withdraw the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) Amendment Bill and to make a new legislative start that embraces the African Mining Vision and the Chilean model. Speaking at a media conference ahead of the Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town, Herbert Smith Freehills partner and Africa practice co-chair Peter Leon said the Minister should also conduct meaningful discussions with the Chamber of Mines (CoM) on Mining Charter Three, warning that failing to do so and simply publishing a new charter without further discussions would be a “very bad mistake”.