We must seek to build on the democratic success gained in 1990-1994 without raising expectations through hyperbole or half promises. We are handling the critical interests of the nation with circumspection and clarity.

In the midst of the debate about nationalisation, we have consistently maintained that it is not the policy of either the ANC or the government and that, when all is said and done, the ANC will adopt a policy position that is in the best interests of South Africa.

Furthermore, we have consistently maintained that, were it not for the industry lagging behind in the implementation of the provisions of the Mining Charter and the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, this debate would not have been there in the first place.

I welcome the fact that the report of the ANC's task team on nationalisation has reinforced the ANC's earlier decisions that nationalisation is not a viable policy for South Africa. This is not a surprise. It demonstrates the consistent but pragmatic policy that has guided the ANC over many decades, including the period of the adoption of the Freedom Charter in 1955 and, even more recently, the period after 1994.

Last year, I announced the launch of South Africa's mining cadastral system [showing the extent, value, and ownership of land, especially for taxation], the purpose of which was to introduce transparency and reduce the administrative burden on potential investors.

More than 3000 applications have now been successfully lodged, which is very much in line with the annual rate . This also indicates continued and sustained interest in the South African mining industry.

Last year there was still a moratorium on prospecting rights, which we have since lifted. When I lifted it, I announced the intention to implement a new process that would be applicable to prospecting and mining rights that had either lapsed or had been revoked.

I have placed a notice in the Government Gazette inviting proposals or comments regarding our intention to pursue this route.

By so doing we seek to ensure that there is investment in our mining jurisdiction beyond the current unacceptably varied levels.

Beneficiation of South Africa's minerals is a critical component of the industrial and economic development framework. It is the vehicle through which South Africa's resource-based comparative advantage can be transformed into a national competitive advantage.

To this end, a beneficiation strategy has been developed to maximise the returns from the exploitation of our mineral resources.

The beneficiation policy identifies five pilot mineral value chains: iron ore and steel, energy, autocatalytic converters and diesel particulates, titanium and jewellery. The first two are complete and we are finishing the last three.

In pursuance of the objectives of the developmental state, we have established a cabinet-approved state-owned mining company to support state participation in the industry. To this end, I have issued a Government Gazette levelling the playing field and ensuring that the company is regulated by the same set of rules as the private sector.

In January, the government engaged stakeholders in the industry to assess the situation and deliberate on emerging challenges.

The process has identified crosscutting constraints to the growth and development of the industry, which include infrastructure, skills, and research and development. The Transnet infrastructure development plans are an example of the government's response to address those constraints.

Last year, I intimated that we were embarking on a process of reviewing the act with a view to creating clarity where there are ambiguities. But, while we were doing that, there were a number of court cases, the outcomes of which will be considered in the review.

The goal of ensuring that mining takes place in a responsible manner cannot be met while the environmental impact resulting from mining is not properly regulated and managed. We also recognise that there could be challenges facing potential investors in respect of acquiring the necessary approvals.

It is against this background that there are efforts to align the licensing framework for permits which affect more than one department. Over the past year, there has been significant progress. We will consult on this matter and explore the potential for strengthening and creating an enabling regulatory framework.

Health and safety in the industry remain a concern. We will continue to use the Mine Health and Safety Act and related legislation to take appropriate action to ensure that workers have a safe and dignified work environment and that their right to sanctity of life is protected.

In this regard, the department has stepped up the monitoring and evaluation of compliance.

Where necessary, section 54 of the act has been invoked to halt or suspend operations of mines or sections of mines found either to be unsafe or not compliant with the law. These measures and concerted stakeholder engagements have contributed to a significant and consistent drop in the number of fatalities reported by the mining sector.

This is an edited version of a speech by Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu given at the African Mining Indaba, in Cape Town on Monday