Mining ownership target to stay

Pretoria - Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu released South Africa's new mining charter on Wednesday, but stuck with the previous target of transferring 26% of the ownership of mines to black people by 2014.

The revised plans will seek to speed up black ownership, skills development, employment equity, procurement, housing and living conditions, and mining beneficiation.

"The 26% target is confirmed for 2014," Shabangu said.

Shabangu and South African mining executives signed a document - the mining industry strategy for sustainable growth and meaningful transformation - which sets out a strategy to raise competitiveness and enhance transformation or ownership of mines by black people.

Shabangu also said the department will be stepping up its monitoring and evaluation of the industry to ensure that transformation does take place.

"We cannot have... an industry controlled by a Mickey Mouse, we have to be serious. One of the things we are going to do is increase monitoring and evaluation."

Shabangu said various practices of the mining industry were unacceptable.

These included workers' conditions, black economic empowerment contracts where black people were considered tokens, community empowerment projects and skills shortages.

She said the department also had a responsibility to defend the industry.