Peter Leon: What should a new SA Mining Charter look like?
19 February 2018
Yesterday’s agreement between President Ramaphosa and the Chamber of Mines to postpone today's court hearing to review and set aside Mining Charter III signals a welcome change in relations between Government and the South African mining industry.
“The decision to suspend today's hearing presents an opportunity for all affected parties to negotiate a revised version of the Charter which reflects terms acceptable to all mining industry stakeholders. If successful, it will also provide much-needed policy certainty to attract investment and create jobs,” says Peter Leon, Co-Chair and Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills’ Africa practice.
It is to President Ramaphosa's credit that he has intervened so decisively within days of assuming office to resolve this long running impasse between government and industry.
“In our view, the provisions of any amended or renegotiated Mining Charter should: