SA cannot just commit minerals to Trump - Mantashe
Minerals Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe does not believe President Cyril Ramaphosa and his delegation would trade away the country's minerals during a meeting with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday.
Ramaphosa and his delegation are in Washington in an attempt to mend strained relations between the two countries.
Some of the issues to be discussed include trade relations and tariffs, withdrawal of US aid, diplomatic ties and debunked claims of genocide against Afrikaners.
Mantashe was speaking at a media briefing in Cape Town on Tuesday.
During the briefing, Mantashe announced Cabinet’s approval of South Africa’s critical minerals and metals strategy, along with the publication of the 2025 Mineral Resources Development Bill for public comment.
"Having watched the relations between the US and Ukraine, I would imagine that the US will try to put the issue of minerals on the table," Mantashe said, referring to a minerals deal with the United States, an agreement Kyiv hopes will pave the way for future military support from Washington.
"But, I doubt if our delegation can commit South Africa to its minerals on its hooves. It can't work that way. They may have issues, but that will have to come back for a discussion in the country."
Mantashe said any decision in the meeting around minerals would have to include the sector.
"One of the things that we have developed as a country is to ensure that we don't just work as a department, we work as a sector. Any decision in that regard will have to involve us. It will have to involve the Mineral Council, it will have to involve labour, and then we can make proposals.
"But our emphasis is that our strategic minerals, critical minerals, must be as close to the point of production as possible. That is our emphasis, and that delegation in the US understands that fully,” he added.
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