Johannesburg - Increasing investment and economic growth are paramount to solving issues affecting the mining sector, ANC treasurer general Zweli Mkhize said on Tuesday.
Speaking at a Youth in Mining Summit in Johannesburg, he said that resolving the crisis in the mining industry should also encompass economic transformation and creating jobs.
The summit takes place under a dark cloud of slow economic growth and high job losses being experienced in the mining sector.
However, Mkhize was at pains to explain that the industry was not dead and could still contribute to South Africa’s economy.
He said the answers to these challenges should be achieved now rather than later when the economy had recovered.
“The fact that there are challenges in mining doesn’t mean that mining is going down. Mining still has a lot to contribute to our economy,” he explained.
“During the crisis it is the right time that we lay all the foundations that we need for the mining industry. So that we have all our ducks in a row when we recover, so that we do not make the same mistakes we made before we recovered,” said Mkhize.
Mkhize also poured cold water on calls for the ANC to nationalise mines.
He explained that even though the discussion was a hot topic amongst politicians and the public, the ruling party remained adamant that it would not nationalise mines.
Mkhize also acknowledged the challenges faced by the youth regarding unemployment.
“The general feeling amongst young people associated with lack of access to opportunities in various sectors especially in our mining industries is that they feel frustrated and isolated,” said Mkhize.
LABOUR BUREAU