Pretoria – The newly formed Mineral and Mining Development Board will focus on jobs in the mining industry as part of its mandate.
“In light of the job losses that the industry is facing, the specific mandate of the board will be to research and properly consider the issue of job losses in the industry and to prepare a report on the issue for the Minister’s consideration by 31 July 2016,” the Department of Mineral Resources said in a statement on Wednesday.
Other areas the board will focus on include the stakeholder declaration and direct engagement with primary right holders and organised labour through the Minister’s open door policy, as he continues to direct efforts to save jobs and ameliorate the impact of the current market conditions.
Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane recently announced the constitution of the board. The formation of the new board follows the end of the term of office of the previous board, which ended on 1 February 2016.
“The board’s mandate is to be supplementary to the Mining Industry Growth Development and Employment Task Team (MIGDETT) to provide an alternative source of consideration by the Minister in his deliberations on the issue,” the department said.
Minister Zwane has reappointed six board members.
“The board was initially set up in terms of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) in 2004 and envisioned that it would see coherent and collaborative stakeholder participation in the governance of a competitive and sustainable, minerals and petroleum industry,” the department said.
The board’s mandate is to advise the Minister on any matter that is referred to the board by the Minister and to advise the Minister on the sustainable development of the nation’s mineral and petroleum resources. The board should also give priority to matters referred to it by the Minister.
The members of the board include Chairperson Khetiwe McClain, Deputy Chairperson and representative of Organised Labour Smunda Mokoena and Chief Inspector of Mines and current acting Director General David Msiza.
Other members are Luthando Brukwe for organised labour, Neale Baartjes for organised business as well as Vusi Mabena for the Chamber of Mines.
