A new chapter for mining regulation in South Africa: The Draft Mineral Resources Development Bill, 2025
On 20 May 2025, the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (Minister) published the Draft Mineral Resources and Development Bill, 2025 (Bill) for public comment. The Bill proposes some key amendments to the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 2002 (MPRDA). According to the Minister, the amendments are aimed at, among others, ensuring regulatory certainty.
Key amendments
- The MPRDA will be amended to regulate artisanal and small-scale mining as provision is made in the Bill for obtaining artisanal mining permits and small-scale mining permits.
- The definition of “effective date” as defined in the MPRDA will be amended to make the permits and rights issued in terms thereof effective from the date on which the right was granted and not the execution date.
- The introduction of the Ministerial Advisory Council to advise on resource development and transformation.
- The removal of certain references from the MPRDA such as the references to petroleum to align with the with the Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Act 23 of 2024, which is yet to come into effect.
Submission of written representations
Interested and affected parties are invited to submit written representations on the draft Bill. The representations must be marked for the attention of Ms Stella Mamogale and hand-delivered, emailed, or sent by post on or before 13 August 2025 to:
- 70 Meintjies Street, Sunnyside, 0001
- Private Bag X59, Arcadia, 0007
- Representations@dmre.gov.za
For more information in this regard and for assistance with preparing written representations on the Bill, please contact Robin van Wyk at LnP Beyond Legal.
Co-authored by Cindy-Lee Bekeer.