Parliament, Wednesday 28 January 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Petroleum Resources will tomorrow, Thursday 29 January 2026, visit Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) to interact with the mining house and amakhosi to discuss community mining rights challenges. The visit forms part of the week-long oversight visits to Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
The interaction with RBM and the local communities that are intended beneficiaries of the community mining trust follows allegations of misuse of community mining trust funds and subsequent court action. The committee will receive updates on the legal proceedings and on interventions made by the Department of Mineral Resources aimed at improving governance within these trusts.
“As required by the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) of 2002, communities must benefit meaningfully from community mining trusts. Governance structures must meet the highest standards, and the trusts must contribute to sustainable development within host communities. It is therefore important for the committee to assess the reported challenges and the measures being implemented to resolve them, in the interest of communities where Richards Bay Minerals operates,” reiterated Mr Mahlaule.
Details of the meeting
Date: Thursday, 29 January 2026
Time: 10:00
Venue: RBM Administration Premises
The full oversight programme can be downloaded here: https://tinyurl.com/pf7bxryd
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON MINERALS AND PETROLEUM RESOURCES, Mr MIKATEKO MAHLAULE.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairpersons, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Malatswa Molepo (Mr)
Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: 021 403 8438
Cell: 081 512 7920
E-mail: mmolepo@parliament.gov.za
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