JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The phased rollout of the new online mining licensing system – the cadastre – is progressing steadily, with Western Cape applications being received and processed online, Parliament was informed on June 3 during the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources’ (DMPR's) National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Budget Vote 34.

The migration from the old system to the new platform has been completed in the Western Cape, and the implementation is now progressing to other regions, Minerals and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe reported.

“We’re pleased to share that the system has been tested and found to be operational in the Western Cape, with applications being received and processed online,” Mantashe added.

Lessons drawn from the Western Cape experience would, he said, assist in accelerating implementation across South Africa.

Regarding legislative reform, it was reported that the Mineral Resources Development Bill is being refined to incorporate stakeholder inputs.

Once all processes are completed, including legal certification, the Bill will be submitted to Cabinet for approval ahead of being introduced to Parliament for consideration and adoption, which is expected to take place during the three months ending September 30.

A key pillar of the government strategy to position South Africa in the global critical mineral’s economy is geoscience mapping and exploration, which is being advanced through the integrated and multi-disciplinary geoscience mapping programme. This has reportedly increased national onshore mapping coverage from below 5% in 2019 to a cumulative 20% in the 2025/26 financial year.

Thirteen exploration projects have been funded through the Junior Mining Exploration Fund and the results of its first drilling project in Bothaville, targeting rare earth elements and associated minerals, are currently being interpreted. The second project in Giyani, targeting copper, nickel, and gold, is nearing completion.

Despite prevailing global economic pressures, the South African mining industry continues to demonstrate resilience.

This is evidenced by South Africa’s mining gross value add reaching R477-billion in 2025, contributing an estimated 6.3% to the country’s GDP.

Mining royalties to the fiscus totalled R11.8-billion in 2025, an increase of 11% from the R10.6-billion recorded in 2024.

Mining export revenue from primary minerals reached R649-billion, increasing from R586-billion in 2024.

Social and labour plan implementation was highlighted last month with the handing over by miners in Steelpoort of a new four-lane bridge, which replaced a single-lane century-old bridge.

That bridge stands as a physical symbol of mining companies pooling resources together to deliver infrastructure that no single entity could have achieved independently, the Minister stated.

For the 2026/27 financial year, the DMPR has been allocated R2.86-billion, of which R1.17-billion will be transferred to public entities and strategic programmes.

Operational allocations include R70.46-million for the South African Diamond and Precious Metals Regulator, R94.98-million for the Petroleum Agency South Africa, R666.9-million for the Council for Geoscience, R328.7-million for Mintek, and R4.89-million for the Mine Health and Safety Council.

Project-specific allocations include R23.48-million for the Mine Rehabilitation Research Project, R140.87-million for the Derelict and Ownerless Mines Project, R48.1-million for the implementation of the Shale Gas Project, R33.83-million for the Mine Water Ingress Project, and R31.12-million for the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Project.