South African Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, announced the official approval of the Critical Minerals and Metals Strategy and the release of the draft 2025 Mineral Resources Development Bill (MRDB) for public consultation.

The strategy aims to unlock South Africa’s potential in the global minerals market by enhancing policy certainty and regulatory clarity. It assesses 21 minerals based on eight indicators, including export potential, employment impact, and supply risk. Platinum, manganese, iron ore, coal, and chrome are categorized as highly critical, while gold, palladium, rhodium, and rare earth rank as medium-high.

The strategy is built on six pillars, such as geological exploration, infrastructure, and skills development. Meanwhile, the MRDB seeks to improve governance through streamlined permitting, better alignment with environmental and water regulations, and the introduction of a licensing system for small-scale and artisanal mining. The government hopes this initiative will combat illegal mining and support the legal growth of junior miners, advancing South Africa’s role in the global green transition and high-tech manufacturing.