The possible far-reaching implications for the mining industry of the new draft Mining Charter came under intense scrutiny in Johannesburg on Tuesday when a team of lawyers discussed the various changes contained in the draft and focussed in particular on its attempt to align the mining industry – regulated under the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act of 2002 – with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Codes of Good Practice of 2003. Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane on April 15 published the Reviewed Draft Broad Based Black-Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Charter for the South African Mining and Minerals Industry in a surprise gazette notice, which allowed 30 days for public comment.
