SOUTH-AFRICA - DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW MINERAL POLICY

In the light of the recent political changes there, South Africa has e mbarked on a process of developing a new mineral policy. The positions before and immediately after the political changes are outlined in th eir historical context as a prelude to a discussion of the completed p rocess in relation to health and safety at mines, and the ongoing unco mpleted process in relation to other issues. The latter process and th e relevant issues are discussed at the stage reached in the process at time of writing of this article. Such issues include background issue s (safety and health, training, education, investment climate, taxatio n, electricity and transport, competition and ownership, industrial re lations and employment), the business environment (research and develo pment, beneficiation, mineral marketing, administration and regulation ), human resources (eliminating residual racism, housing, downscaling, and migrant labour), environmental issues and surface use, regional i ssues (national and provincial powers, and Southern African regional i ssues), small-scale and artisanal mining, and mineral tenure (mineral rights, optimal exploitation, access to exploration information, acces s to information relating to mineral right holdings, and trust lands). Conclusions are offered in relation to the degree of consensus reache d, the issue of mineral tenure followed by that of downscaling being i dentified as the most controversial. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.