SA’s attractiveness as a destination for mining investment in Africa is on the verge of rock bottom. SA ranks 84th out of 104 jurisdictions in the latest 2016 survey of the attractiveness of countries for mining investment. The survey is released by the Fraser Institute, a Canadian think-tank that measures various indices of economic freedom. In Africa, we keep poor company: of the 15 African countries included in the survey, SA is seen as a more attractive mining investment destination than only two others: war-torn South Sudan and economically straitened Zimbabwe. If the Harare Spring results in real reforms in that country, Zimbabwe could well leapfrog SA as a more attractive mining destination on the continent. Even countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) sit above SA as a mining investment destination of choice. Without a change — and in more than just mining policy — SA will continue to lose out to other African states in much-needed foreign investment. As not...

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.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.