South Africa suspends Mining Charter pending court challenge

The charter would require mining assets in South Africa to be 30% black-owned, up from 26% currently

South African Minerals Minister Mosebenzi Zwane has suspended the controversial new Mining Charter pending judgment on a case brought by the industry seeking to halt the rules, according to the Chamber of Mines, which represents producers.

In return, the chamber has agreed to the department of mineral resources’ request for more time to prepare its response in the case, the group said in an emailed statement Friday.

The Mining Charter, which Zwane published June 15, would require mining assets in South Africa to be 30 per cent black-owned, up from 26 per cent currently, and previous deals from which black investors have