Mining Weekly reports that the Chamber of Mines said on Thursday that it had been caught by surprise by the appointment of Adv. Thabo Mokoena as new director-general (DG) of the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR).  

While the Chamber acknowledged that the appointment of the DG was the prerogative of the Minister, it believed that consultation with key stakeholders was important before the announcement was made.  The appointment, endorsed by Cabinet and announced by the DMR minister on Thursday, has clearly set the cat among the mining pigeons.  The Chamber noted that, although Mokoena was a lawyer by training, there were concerns about the depth of his mining industry knowledge and experience, more so given that the industry had challenges of attracting investments and also dealing with transformation and inclusive growth.  ‘Lawfare’ is said to be beginning to loom large as the DMR and the industry square up to what looks like being a contest that will not provide SA with what it so urgently needs, namely  jobs.

• Read this report in full at Mining Weekly
• See too, Dismay at new head of mining department, at BusinessLive
• And also, Chamber questions expertise of new mining DG, at Fin24

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