South Africa grants 358 prospecting rights, 32 mining rights in 12 months

South Africa granted 358 prospecting rights and 32 mining rights between February 2025 and January 2026, signalling sustained investor confidence in the country’s mining sector, Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe has announced.

Delivering opening remarks at the 32nd Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town on Monday, the Minister said the approvals reflect government’s commitment to a fair, efficient and transparent licensing regime that supports growth while safeguarding national interests.

He noted that the licensing progress comes amid ongoing reforms to South Africa’s regulatory framework, aimed at making the mining environment more predictable and attractive to investors, particularly in the exploration phase.

As part of efforts to stimulate exploration activity, Mantashe confirmed that the requirement for Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) participation at the prospecting stage has been removed, describing the move as a pragmatic intervention to address the high-risk nature of early-stage exploration.

“This change is designed to stimulate exploration, increase South Africa’s global share of exploration investment, and ultimately expand the pipeline of future mines,” he said, stressing that the policy adjustment does not signal a retreat from transformation.

The Minister said early results of the renewed exploration drive are already emerging, with new geological data revealing significant untapped mineral potential across the country.

He cited progress under the Junior Mining Exploration Fund (JMEF), including a project in the Bothaville district of the Free State that has advanced to intensive drilling for rare earth elements and associated minerals.

According to Mantashe, the second round of the JMEF has attracted 80 applications targeting a wide range of minerals, including tin, tungsten, titanium, uranium, gold, copper and lithium.

Beyond licensing, the Minister highlighted recent mine developments that have either commenced operations or entered production, reinforcing the sector’s growth momentum.

Mantashe reiterated government’s intention to honour investor confidence by ensuring a licensing system that balances investment facilitation, equitable benefit-sharing and national development objectives, as South Africa advances implementation of its newly completed Critical Minerals Strategy.