Frequently Asked Questions

Closures were often driven by cycle pressure, depth-related costs, and capital constraints rather than poor geology. South Africa remained the world’s largest gold producer until around 2007, showing how recent the shift is historically.

Restart requires disciplined verification of: remaining mineable ounces, infrastructure condition, mine plan practicality, metallurgical recovery assumptions, cost realism, and a clear rights/permitting pathway.

Tailings are already mined and placed. The investment case often depends on sampling density, recovery efficiency, and operating discipline—rather than greenfield geological uncertainty.

In some Witwatersrand-linked contexts, uranium occurs with gold. Where measurable and recoverable, uranium credits can add optionality beyond gold-only economics.

A decision package: investment thesis, red flags, key diligence findings, sensitivity analysis, mining rights status, and recommended transaction path.

The Bushveld Complex is globally recognised as the core PGM province; it is commonly cited as producing around 70% of global platinum from this system.

No. PGMs are a basket (platinum, palladium, rhodium, etc.). Diligence must model basket composition, recoveries, and payability.

Power intensity, metallurgical performance, and smelter/refinery terms—plus realistic productivity under South African operating constraints.

Orebody quality + cost realism + credible operating plan + rights/compliance clarity + execution governance.

 South Africa’s 2025 national strategy reports reserve market share positions of Manganese 80%, Chromite 72%, and ranks South Africa second in Vanadium 32%.

USGS states South Africa accounts for an estimated 70% of the world’s manganese resources—exceptional for any single country.  

USGS notes chromium resources are 95% concentrated in Kazakhstan and southern Africa, demonstrating structural supply concentration. 

Logistics (rail/port), product specification/penalties, power/water constraints, and unrealistic delivered-cost assumptions.

The Mining Right framework under the MPRDA, and its practical application via SAMRAD and DMRE processes.

Mining rights + environmental authorisations + Mining Charter/B-BBEE frameworks + Social & Labour Plan (SLP) obligations. 

A Social and Labour Plan is a pre-requisite for granting a mining right and sets commitments on HR development, community development, housing/living conditions, and management of downscaling/retrenchment.