Pretoria – South African Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane held his first Mining Industry Growth Development and Employment Task Team (MIGDETT), the department said on Friday.
As Zwane addressed MIGDETT stakeholders, he acknowledged the crisis the country was currently experiencing with students protesting against fee hikes.
“It would be amiss of us to sit here and pretend that the #FeesMustFall march is not happening,” he said.
“It is imperative that we engage and see how we can assist in this regard. We will thus be knocking on your doors, as we encourage those who already have solutions to come forward.”
He used the moment to speak about the importance of “raising funding for education and skills development” in the sector.
Going on to assure stakeholders who consisted of representatives from organised business and organised labour, about the country’s mining future, he said that he and his department were committed to “moving the South African mining industry forward”.
“Our approach is that of an open-door policy with all our stakeholders. When problems arise, we will not hesitate to step in and ensure they are resolved,” he said.
ANA