Cabinet approved the Critical Minerals and Metals Strategy for South Africa, and the Mineral Resources Development Bill of 2025 on Tuesday, the 20 May 2025, in Cape Town.
Speaking about this action, Gwede Mantashe, Minister of the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR), said the approval of these two policy documents marks a major milestone in efforts that are aimed at ensuring policy and regulatory certainty, as well as maximising the country’s potential in the global market for minerals.
Mantashe also said although the term “critical minerals” has been used by various nations for a considerable period, there has been no universal consensus on the definition of critical minerals, as several countries have interchangeably used and defined “critical, strategic or future minerals” according to their importance in: economic growth and industrialisation; technological advancements; energy transition; geopolitical considerations; supply chain vulnerabilities; environmental and social concerns; and strategic importance.
He also said “Mintek has the responsibility to coordinate the development of South Africa’s Critical Minerals Strategy with the intention to foster investment into exploration, beneficiation, building resilient local value chains, research and development, skills development and strengthening regional integration and international partnerships to position the country as a major player in the global critical minerals market.”
At least, twenty one (21) commodity studies were conducted in parallel with the work of determining the criticality of minerals, with input from the industry.
Whereas every mineral is found to be critical for various reasons, the strategy has identified the following minerals as high-critical minerals for South Africa based on their criticality informed by the eight indicators: platinum, manganese, iron ore, coal, and chrome ore.
The strategy further identified mineral commodities such as gold, vanadium, palladium,rhodium, and rare earth elements as minerals with moderate to high criticality.
Minerals such as copper, cobalt, lithium, graphite, nickel, titanium, phosphate,fluorspar, zirconium, uranium, and aluminium were identified as minerals with moderate criticality.
Picture: Richard Munang