Johannesburg - A survey has revealed that uncertainty about South Africa's mining policies is hurting the country's image and ranking as a mining investment destination, Business Day reported on Tuesday.
In the survey, which was conducted by the Canada-based Fraser Institute, South Africa scored lower than last year in terms of its policy and mineral potential, the newspaper reported.
It was placed 53rd, behind Zambia, Namibia, Burkina Faso and Niger, but higher than Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
More than 700 mining executives took part in the survey, which was conducted between October and January, and was released on Monday.
Botswana remained the highest-ranked African country in the survey, placing 17th in the world, reported Business Day.
"Both SA and Zimbabwe are driving social experiments not driven by logic and economy, but by ideology," one of the respondents reportedly said.
"In the absence of reason, primary industries become
cash cows to fund the unfundable."