Mantashe shuts down chiefs’ mineral claims, says state holds the treasure

Mineral wealth belongs to the state, not your local chief. Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe reiterated that underground resources are national custodial property, directly challenging traditional leaders and communities who seek direct ownership or benefits from mining on their land. This position, grounded in the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, aims to distribute gains across the entire country through licensing and tax revenue.

The declaration has sparked concern in mining regions like Rustenburg and the Eastern Cape, where communities argue that state control often fails to deliver promised local jobs or infrastructure. Traditional leaders cite laws granting them land management authority, creating a legal tension over surface rights versus subsurface ownership. Mantashe, a former mineworker and union leader, frames his stance as necessary to prevent conflict and ensure unified national development from finite resources.

This debate occurs amid South Africa's push to capitalize on green energy minerals and revise mining policies. The minister's comments underscore an ongoing struggle to balance centralized economic planning with grassroots demands for equity and direct participation in the wealth extracted from ancestral territories.