Legal analysis of South Africa's draft mining law amendments found the bill's ministerial consent requirement for changes of control was so broadly worded it could apply to routine JSE share trades.
Minerals Council president Paul Dunne warned Minister Gwede Mantashe the industry would fight draft MPRDA amendments in court if empowerment and beneficiation conditions are not softened.
The Minerals Council South Africa said engagement sessions on the MPRDA amendment bill were too high-level to be useful, and that its key recommendation on prospecting rights was ignored.
The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources published draft amendments to the MPRDA for public comment, aiming to speed up licensing while adding new empowerment and compliance conditions.
The Minerals Council South Africa says the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources is unhappy with a court ruling that protects existing empowerment deals, and may use MPRDA amendments to undo it.
