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No Funds, No Minerals – Gwede Mantashe

BUSINESSNEWS

Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe hosted the 31st edition of the Invest in African Mining Indaba, where he called on African nations to take a firm stance in controlling their mineral resources. He added that Africa should not succumb to external pressures, particularly from the United States, urging the continent to assert greater sovereignty over its natural wealth.

At the 31st Investing in African Mining Conference (Mining Indaba) in Cape Town yesterday, minister Gwede Mantashe made a statement responding to president Donald Trump’s threats to cut funding to South Africa.

Let’s withhold minerals to the US. If they don’t give us money, let’s not give them minerals.


Mantashe reminded Africans that Africa is the world’s richest mining jurisdiction and not just beggars who are entirely dependent on the Western countries.

We have minerals. We are not just beggars. So we must use that endowment to our benefit.

Vincent Makwenya, spokesperson of President, told the SABC that the statement by Minister Mantashe to withhold minerals from the US is not official government opposition but a suggestion that if the US can withhold funds, South African should be able to withhold minerals.

The presidency alluded that Trumps words might be because he misunderstood the Expropriation Bill to be a tool to confiscate land.

International Relations and Co-operation Minister Ronald Lamola expressed on X his hope that Trump’s advisers would use this investigative period to better understand South Africa’s policies as a constitutional democracy. He added that this understanding would promote a respectful and well-informed approach to the country’s democratic values.

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