CAPE TOWN, February 5 (ANA) -South Africa’s chamber of mines is more optimistic about the future of mining in the country after the ruling ANC party’s conference last year which elected deputy present Cyril Ramaphosa as its leader, CEO Roger Baxter said on Monday.
"There's a positive wind blowing," Baxter told a news conference ahead of the start of the annual "Mining Indaba" in Cape Town.
“We know the future holds challenges, but we are ready to stand and play our role as the chamber, leading the industry in engaging with other stakeholders to get the outcomes that are necessary to get this great industry back on track."
He however said the industry had lost faith in Mines Minister Mosebenzi Zwane's leadership, accusing him of negotiating in "bad faith" on legislation governing the sector.
The chamber says uncertainty over policy and the regulatory environment intensified after Zwane unveiled a Mining Charter last year which the sector slammed as impractical and poorly drafted.
The government and labour have also accused mining companies of pursuing profit at the expense of workers safety, an issue which came into focus last week when more than 950 miners were trapped at Stillwater-Sibanye’s Beatrix mine in Free State after a power outage.
- African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Stella Mapenzauswa
