Mining industry stakeholders are questioning President Jacob Zuma’s rationale of replacing the former Mining Minister, Ngoako Ramatlthodi, with Mosebenzi Zwane, a relative unknown in the country’s political circles. This is at least from what Transform SA Online has gathered from the general industry sentiment.
After initial skepticism following his appointment, Ramatlthodi had gained industry trust. Though there were pockets of disagreements with some of his pronouncements, in general, many warmed to him.
Ramatlhodi is credited for, amongst other things, the signing of a declaration to slow down and ease the impact of job cuts in the struggling mining industry and his uncompromising stance on compliance.
“He (Ramatlthodi) was likeable…a gentleman, quite one of a kind. A good listener…” bemoaned a mining executive whom Transform SA bumped into in a hotel foyer in Sandton.
From the tone of its short statement, Investec has expressed its displeasure at Ramatlhodi’s departure. Commented the listed financial services giant: “Just as the minister gets to grips with all/most of the issues in the sector, we start with a new minister.”
The President of the vociferous new kid on the trade union block, AMCU, Joseph Mathunjwa, and Chamber of Mines chief executive Roger Baxter wished Zuma had let Ramatlodi finish the work he had started.
A mammoth task awaits Zwane: a sector that has been forced to shed jobs due to the commodities slump and the tempestuous labour union-business relations, and the communist agenda in the ruling party (which mining companies view with disdain).
The jury is out on the Zwane capability. Not much is known about his performance in national government, but his previous jobs included stints as provincial minister for agriculture and rural development in the Free State.
