At the G20 Critical Mineral Engagement held in Sandton, near Johannesburg, South Africa’s Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, made a striking declaration regarding the nation’s trade of critical minerals. He asserted that South Africa will not be coerced into accepting unfavourable terms dictated by foreign powers, particularly in the context of its growing association with BRICS nations.
Mantashe’s remarks come at a time when global demand for critical minerals has surged, with these resources becoming essential for advancing technologies and green energy initiatives. His comments highlight a broader sentiment among developing economies that they must no longer fit into a narrative of dependency that undermines their own economic sovereignty.
“The most important thing for us as developing economies is that we should not be bullied for what we own,” Mantashe stated emphatically. “If people need them, they must talk to us. We must not give them critical minerals on their own terms while our view is ignored,” he added, indicating a call for a restructuring of how mineral resource negotiations are approached.
The Minister’s address particularly zeroed in on the potential repercussions of South Africa’s BRICS affiliation, especially concerning tariffs from the United States. “If being a BRICS member attracts tariffs from the US, then South Africa should diversify its markets,” he asserted, signalling a clear intention to seek optimal value for the nation’s mineral resources by exploring alternative trading partnerships.
Highlighting the issues of protectionism affecting South African exports, he pointed out the unjust nature of imposing tariffs that can reach as high as 30%. “Please sell those critical minerals somewhere else, where there are no tariffs and where you’ll get optimal value,” Mantashe encouraged, framing his argument as one rooted in the realities of the global market dynamics.
Mantashe’s words resonate with a growing demand within South Africa for a recalibrated approach to international trade—one that prioritises the nation’s interests over subservience to traditional dominant powers.