Communities reject draft Mineral Resources Development Bill

AS SOUTH Africa is preparing to commemorate the Marikana Massacre, the Mining Affected Communities United in Action (Macua), says communities are still excluded from crucial decision-making related to mining and its impact on their lives, and that the proposed draft Mineral Resources Development Bill, 2025, would further perpetuate the assault.

- MANYANE MANYANE

This exclusion perpetuates a cycle of marginalisation and inequality, where communities bear the brunt of mining’s negative impacts without benefiting from the resources extracted from their land.

The Draft Bill was published for public comment on May 20, with a submission deadline yesterday.

The Bill aims to ensure policy and regulatory certainty, enhance investor confidence, reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies, and improve turnaround times for mining rights, permits, and regulatory approvals, as well as formally recognise artisanal mining and advance transformation in the mining sector.

However, Macua said the Bill, as currently drafted, betrayed the transformation objectives fought for during the liberation Struggle.

The organisation said instead of advancing democratic participation and justice, the amendments entrench the power of mining companies and marginalise the voices of communities.

Macua, which was expected to make a submission yesterday, added that Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe and his department are failing in their constitutional duty to ensure meaningful consultation, participation, and protection for communities directly affected by extractive activities.