Gwede Mantashe’s entrance into the mining portfolio has, almost predictably, been no different from the arrogance and superior authoritarianism that has characterised the tenure of the last four ministers in this portfolio. The consistency of the arrogance of ministers has been a hallmark of the ANC government, suggesting that this type of dismissal of groups that do not bow before the majesty of the party and its officials has become a style of "governmentality" of the ANC (its manner of governing subjects). The manner in which the minister has dismissed the court order compelling him and the Department of Mineral Resources to consult mining communities in the "formulation" of the Mining Charter epitomises the contempt with which ministers have historically viewed the claims by mining-affected communities to be involved in their own governance. In the first instance the minister has completely ignored the court order. In the second, he deliberately ignored correspondence initiated ...

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