Critical minerals, industrialisation and geopolitical leverage took centre stage at the Invest in African Mining Indaba this past week as African governments warned against a renewed scramble for the continent’s resources and called for deeper partnerships that deliver value beyond extraction.
Opening the conference at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, South Africa’s Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe said Africa must act collectively to protect its sovereignty and capture greater value from its mineral endowment.
“This year’s indaba convenes at a moment of profound global uncertainty,” Mantashe told delegates, pointing to heightened geopolitical tensions driven by developed economies seeking control over natural resources in developing countries. The situation, he said, poses a “serious threat to the sovereignty of resource-endowed countries”, most of which are in Africa.
A key feature of this year’s indaba was the second African Ministers’ Critical Minerals Roundtable, convened in partnership with the African Union. The platform brought together governments, investors and strategic partners to strengthen African leadership in minerals such as lithium, rare earths, copper and uranium, which are all essential to clean energy technologies and advanced manufacturing.
“Our partnership must move beyond extraction to industrialisation and value addition closer to the point of production.”
Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau, echoed this. “Critical minerals investment must translate into industrial jobs and local manufacturing, not just exports of raw ore.”
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema said the key to transforming Africa’s fortunes through mining would lie in providing a clear path that partners and investors could follow.
“Zambia agrees that we are stronger together,” said Hichilema. “No single one of us has enough to deliver the total package for our economies.”
In a move designed to stimulate exploration, Mantashe confirmed the removal of the requirement for Black Economic Empowerment participation at the prospecting stage. He described the decision as a pragmatic response to the high-risk nature of early-stage exploration, rather than a retreat from transformation goals.
Between February 2025 and January 2026, South Africa granted 358 prospecting rights and 32 mining rights, signalling continued confidence in the country as a mining destination. – ESG Now News
Visit SW YouTube Channel for our video content
