South Africa is moving to transform its massive mineral wealth into a strategic global advantage through an integrated, “whole-of-government” approach. At the Investing in African Mining Indaba 2026 in Cape Town, government leaders detailed a holistic plan that aligns mining, transport, water, energy, and trade to foster industrialization and economic growth.
A Shift Toward Local Beneficiation
A central theme of the new strategy is moving beyond the traditional “pit to port” model. Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Gwede Mantashe, emphasized that the real benefits for business and communities lie in downstream beneficiation—adding value to minerals within South Africa’s borders.
To support this, South Africa is leveraging new international partnerships:
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EU-South Africa Clean Trade and Investment Partnership (CTIP): Designed to ensure minerals are processed locally to support job creation.
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Trade Agreements with China: Recent deals now specify that industrialization at the source is a mandatory component of development.
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Afreximbank Agreement: A R100 billion accession agreement aimed at boosting regional supply chains and intra-African investment.
Breaking Infrastructure Silos
To unlock these resources, the government is addressing long-standing bottlenecks in water and transport:
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Water Security: While South Africa is water-scarce, Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina noted that efficiency is improving. Online water licensing now takes 90 days, down from three years. Additionally, Phase II of the New Lesotho Highlands Water Project has commenced to secure necessary resources.
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Transport Reform: Transport Minister Barbara Creecy detailed freight-policy reforms to restore rail as the country’s cargo backbone. This includes introducing private operators and establishing the Transport Economic Regulator to enhance capacity for getting goods to market.
Energy and the “Just Transition”
The strategy is closely tethered to the country’s energy transition and the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). While South Africa is pursuing nuclear, renewables, and battery storage, coal remains a fundamental part of the energy mix and a major employer.
Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, Samantha Graham-Maré, stated that the goal is a stable energy mix that facilitates new industries, such as electric vehicles, while transitioning “at a pace and scale that works for our country”.
Global Leadership in Mining
The Indaba also featured major private sector developments, such as the Platreef project, which is projected to become the world’s largest platinum mine. The project highlights the future of South African mining: high-tech deployment, a skilled workforce, and significant (26%) community participation.
By focusing on the three pillars of decarbonization, digitization, and diversification, South Africa aims to “liberate” its natural assets to lead the global green and digital economies.