ANC provinces want greater say in the running of mines

Centralised control to be pitted against provincial demands

- By Setumo Stone

North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga are set to advocate in this weekend's lekgotla for the devolution of certain mineral resources competences.

As the ANC sits for its national executive committee lekgotla this weekend, a significant push is expected from several provinces to decentralise control of the mining sector.

Three ANC provinces - North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga - are set to advocate for the devolution of certain mineral resources competencies, aiming for their provincial departments to assume greater powers.

The move is framed as a necessary response to chronic local underdevelopment despite mineral wealth.

“The North West Province has three economic hubs: mining, tourism and agriculture,” said Tumelo Maruping, ANC spokesperson in the province. “It is, therefore, disheartening for this province to have the highest unemployment rate in South Africa.”

This challenge fuels the argument against the longstanding, top-down governance of mineral resources, which remain centrally controlled by the national Department of Mineral Resources and Energy.

Provinces argue they bear the social and infrastructure costs of mining - such as roads, water and housing - without proportionate authority or revenue.