RELEASE BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MINERALS POLICY PROCESS

Issued by: SA Communication Service

MEDIA RELEASE BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MINERALS POLICY PROCESS STEERING COMMITTEE

Pretoria 18 October 1995

The Steering Committee which is to manage the process of reviewing South Africa's minerals and mining policy held its first meeting in Johannesburg on 17 October 1995.

The following representatives attended the meeting:

Representing Government: Dr J H Bredell and Messrs A Clark, E T Fourie and H P Taljard from the Department of Mineral and Energy Affairs; Mr M Golding from the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee; and Mr S S Mongwaketse from the Senate Committee on Minerals and Energy.

Representing the mining industry (employers): Messrs P A Anscombe, R Bromley, J J Geldenhuis and W Vergeer.

Representing Labour: Messrs S Nanise (NUM), N Nicol (NUM), T Roos (MWU)

Secretariat (MEPC): Dr R Compton and Mr R Goode.

Mr M Golding was elected Chairman and Dr J H Bredell Deputy Chairman.

The meeting decided that a final version of the draft discussion document would be prepared for public release by 14 November 1995. The Departments of Mineral and Energy Affairs will distribute it to all interested parties for their comments. Copies of the discussion document will also be available for collection from regional offices of the Department, or where these do not exist, from the offices of NUM.

A public meeting at 09:00 on 6 December 1995 in the Auditorium of the Council for Geoscience, 280 Pretoria Street, Silverton, Pretoria, was also decided upon. This meeting will be devoted to -

• explaining to stakeholders how to prepare their comments on the discussion document;
• explaining how stakeholders are to engage in bi-lateral discussions with the Steering Committee;
• identifying themes for workshops;
• explaining stakeholder participation in the next phase of the mineral policy process.

With a view to keeping the public informed on how the minerals policy process is progressing, regular releases will be made to the media after each of the Committee's meetings.

ENQUIRIES: MR M GOLDING TEL: (021) 403-2539