The Chamber of Mines,
which claims to represent 90% of SA’s mining industry by value, wants
the Treasury to give loss-making mines in the embattled industry
"royalty relief" to save companies and retain jobs.
The
chamber outlined a number of suggestions for Finance Minister Pravin
Gordhan, who delivers his budget speech on Wednesday, pointing out the
distressed nature of the local mining industry, which is under pressure
due to globally weak commodity prices, rising domestic costs and falling
productivity.
Since 2012, gold, platinum and coal companies had
cut 47,000 jobs, chamber CEO Roger Baxter said earlier in February.
Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane has said another 32,000 jobs
were at risk.
