Gwede Mantashe wants to remove the ‘Gupta clause’ from Mining Charter
The mineral resources minister is in talks to scrap a clause that includes naturalised citizens in the group of people who should benefit from transformation of the sector
SA will remove a clause from its Mining Charter that includes naturalised citizens in the group of people who should benefit from attempts to more evenly redistribute the country’s mineral wealth. Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe is in talks with companies, unions and mining communities on an update to the mining charter after a version published in 2017 by his predecessor prompted legal challenges from the industry. Among the criticisms of the 2017 charter was its recognition of black and other historically disadvantaged people who had taken citizenship after being in the country for long enough. Opposition parties suggested that the clause was included to benefit the Gupta family, who are friends with former president Jacob Zuma. The family, which has been accused of using its ties to influence government decisions for their benefit, moved to SA in the 1990s and some may have become citizens. Everyone has denied wrongdoing. "We want to cut out anything that looks suspicio...
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