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Cape Town - President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday South Africa needs a mining sector that works.
In his last State of the Nation address before the next national elections he said the government has given the mining companies a 2014 deadline to improve housing conditions for mine workers.
"We can't have conflict that destroys the economy," he said.
Zuma told union leaders to focus on getting decent wages for mineworkers.
The South African mining sector has been plagued by a wave of strikes in recent weeks, most recently the platinum strike in which dominant mining union Amcu is demanding an increase to R12 500 for all mineworkers.
Mining firms say the wage demand is not feasible and would effectively mean a doubling of the wage bill.
Zuma said strikes in the sector were fewer and shorter last year. "And more importantly, industrial relations processes are taking place in a manner consistent with the law."
He said the government has intervened in mining because it is one of our key job drivers. "We need a mining sector that works. Mining employs over half a million people.
"It is the biggest earner of foreign exchange in our country. It also contributes about R20bn directly to the tax revenue.
"Mining also makes a far larger contribution as a buyer of goods and services, and a supplier of inputs to other sectors of our economy and other economies around the globe."
Zuma said the government is exploring partnerships with stakeholders to address the issue of housing in mining towns.
"Let me also remind mining companies that 2014 is the deadline for them to improve housing and living conditions of mineworkers and to achieve a number of targets."
He added that the government continues to monitor and enforce compliance on both the company's Social and Labour Plans and Mining Charter targets.
In his last State of the Nation address before the next national elections he said the government has given the mining companies a 2014 deadline to improve housing conditions for mine workers.
"We can't have conflict that destroys the economy," he said.
Zuma told union leaders to focus on getting decent wages for mineworkers.
The South African mining sector has been plagued by a wave of strikes in recent weeks, most recently the platinum strike in which dominant mining union Amcu is demanding an increase to R12 500 for all mineworkers.
Mining firms say the wage demand is not feasible and would effectively mean a doubling of the wage bill.
Zuma said strikes in the sector were fewer and shorter last year. "And more importantly, industrial relations processes are taking place in a manner consistent with the law."
He said the government has intervened in mining because it is one of our key job drivers. "We need a mining sector that works. Mining employs over half a million people.
"It is the biggest earner of foreign exchange in our country. It also contributes about R20bn directly to the tax revenue.
"Mining also makes a far larger contribution as a buyer of goods and services, and a supplier of inputs to other sectors of our economy and other economies around the globe."
Zuma said the government is exploring partnerships with stakeholders to address the issue of housing in mining towns.
"Let me also remind mining companies that 2014 is the deadline for them to improve housing and living conditions of mineworkers and to achieve a number of targets."
He added that the government continues to monitor and enforce compliance on both the company's Social and Labour Plans and Mining Charter targets.
