NEWS ANALYSIS: Mining Charter debate parties still poles apart
Debates in the formulation of the third Mining Charter laid bare the class, race and ideological divisions inherent in South African society, leaving Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe in a nearly impossible position to please anyone. A two-day summit last weekend provided an unprecedented insight into the debates around the draft charter released by Mantashe in June, showing the extent of his Herculean task of balancing the uncompromising demands from a broad spectrum of role players, each with vested interests and, in part, self-serving objectives that would come at the expense of others. The fiery, populist, hardline rhetoric from the National Union of Mineworkers deputy president, Phillip Vilakazi, which drew loud cheers and ululations from the more than 1,000 delegates, contrasted sharply with the low-key, measured responses from other unions, which drew muted, polite applause at best.The uncompromising, unrealistic demands from the South African Mining Development Assoc...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.