South Africa’s Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, emphasized the importance of critical minerals for the country’s economic growth and job creation. The statement was made during the G20 Critical Minerals Stakeholder Meeting, held in Sandton, north of Johannesburg.
On the occasion, the minister expressed concern over South Africa’s dependence on raw mineral imports, a practice that, according to him, further deepens poverty and social inequality. Mantashe argued that instead of exporting unprocessed resources, the country should leverage its mineral wealth to generate greater internal value, thereby contributing to economic strengthening.
He added that the critical minerals framework, developed in collaboration with G20 partners, should serve as a cooperative roadmap to promote shared prosperity and sustainable development, believing this framework can be a foundation for improving South Africa’s socio-economic conditions.
South Africa’s G20 presidency offers a strategic opportunity to focus efforts on critical minerals, establishing the sector as a priority for collaborative action. Mantashe stressed the importance of strong international partnerships, uniting governments, industries, and research institutions to achieve this goal.
Collaboration among G20 countries in the critical minerals sector aims to turn the proposed framework into an operational partnership. According to the minister, this cooperation will be essential for developing concrete solutions that support South Africa’s sustained economic growth, with the creation of secure and sustainable value chains being fundamental for ensuring inclusive and long-term development. G20 cooperation, he said, will allow South Africa—and other countries—to promote this type of growth.
Finally, Gwede Mantashe stated that the success of this initiative will depend on the ability to transform partnerships into concrete actions that benefit all participating countries, promoting prosperity and sustainable development in the long term.
Source: SABC News
