South African Mines Minister Gwede Mantashe has firmly rejected a business proposal aimed at granting the United States access to Africa’s critical minerals. The decision, reported by Bloomberg News, highlights ongoing tensions over mining strategy and the role of private industry in shaping national policy.
The proposal, put forth by a coalition of business leaders including Sibanye Stillwater CEO Neal Froneman, sought to position South Africa as a gateway for U.S. mineral access across the continent. This initiative emerged ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s key meeting with then-President Donald Trump in May. However, Mantashe’s rejection stems from a perceived lack of consultation with his department and the Minerals Council South Africa regarding the proposal’s formulation.
Mantashe specifically objected to the slogan “make minerals great again,” labelling it as distasteful and inappropriate in the context of South African mining policy. “There can be nothing about mining without” input from the government and industry, he said, explaining his reasons for not advocating the proposal to Ramaphosa.
This incident sheds light on the broader discontent within the mining sector, as industry representatives have frequently lamented over regulatory delays and the prevailing uncertainty in policy. Froneman countered Mantashe’s criticism, maintaining that the proposal was designed to develop better relations between the U.S. and South Africa while leveraging the expertise of the industry. He argued that the government often sidelines crucial stakeholders in policy discussions, leading to misguided initiatives.
Further complicating the narrative, the day before the Trump-Ramaphosa meeting, Mantashe unveiled South Africa’s official critical minerals strategy, which conspicuously focuses on domestic mineral needs. This strategy highlights coal, chrome, iron ore, manganese, and platinum as the nation’s critical minerals, while notable elements such as copper, cobalt, and lithium—plentiful in other parts of Africa yet scant in South Africa—remain overlooked.
Froneman’s remarks reflected a growing frustration with the current leadership: “Both our foreign and local mining industry policies and the truculent manner of the minister make South Africa a destination of little interest to foreign mining capital investment, especially from the U.S. South Africa-focused critical minerals strategies as proposed by minister Mantashe are unlikely to deliver any value.”
This exchange marks not only a pivotal moment for the South African mining industry but also raises critical questions about the future of international partnerships in the sector.