Mantashe vows that DMRE will clear mining rights permit backlog by end of year

CAPE TOWN - Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe said that his department would ensure that mining rights permit backlogs were cleared by the end of this year.

This follows reports that over 2,500 applications submitted in March last year had not yet been processed.

The minister said that reports published regarding the delays had no factual basis.

"We received 2,525 applicatioins, prospecting rights 1,596, 854 mining permits. We have processed and finalised 674 of those permits."