President Cyril Ramaphosa used a heated parliamentary question-and-answer session to passionately defend black economic empowerment, arguing that South Africa’s mining industry is stronger today because black entrepreneurs were finally allowed into a sector once guarded like a private vault by white capital.
Speaking in the National Assembly on Thursday amid fierce political tension surrounding the renewed Phala Phala debacle, Ramaphosa dismissed claims that BEE is damaging the economy, calling such arguments dishonest and misleading.
“I’d like to address this issue that is being thrown about. About BEE being an impediment to the growth of our economy,” Ramaphosa said emphatically.
“It is false. It is lies. It is just a slogan.”
Ramaphosa’s remarks touched directly on the mining industry, a sector that has since produced prominent black business figures such as Solly “My Sol” Madibela, whose rise in mining circles has become symbolic of how democratic reforms opened doors previously sealed shut during apartheid.
Apartheid-era mineral ownership
Drawing from his own experience as a former mineworkers’ union organiser, Ramaphosa reminded MPs that before 1994, South Africa’s mineral wealth was effectively controlled by a handful of giant corporations.
“Having been an organiser of mineworkers, I should know. Pre-1994, the mining industry in our country was just controlled by six mega companies. They held all the mineral rights in South Africa, and they were tending to hold them in perpetuity,” he said.
The president painted a vivid picture of what he described as the entitlement mentality that accompanied apartheid-era mineral ownership.
“One of them actually said, ‘Once we are given mineral rights, they become our rights and they are like biltong. Dried up biltong, we just cut what we want, eat it and put it away’,” Ramaphosa said.
“But when the democratic government changed the law, and nationalised all the mineral rights in our country, it opened up space for black people to get into mining.”
From labourers to owners
Ramaphosa said the transformation of the sector allowed black South Africans to move from being underground labourers to becoming owners and operators.
“They are mining manganese, which they were not even able to get into, they are mining coal [when] they only participated in coal as workers. They are mining gold [when] they were only mineworkers and not owners. Today that industry has got more black entrepreneurs,” he said.
The president pointed to Seriti Resources as one of the clearest examples of successful black participation in the industry.
He noted that the company, which is 92% black-owned, has grown into a major mining and energy player supplying coal to Eskom while simultaneously investing heavily into renewable energy through Seriti Green as part of the country’s Just Energy Transition.
Ramaphosa told Parliament the company had already committed about R6 billion towards renewable energy expansion.
“How can anyone say, that has impeded our economy?” Ramaphosa asked.
“That company and many others are expanding their operations, they are expanding their skill base in their companies where white people only did certain jobs. More and more black engineers are being employed at management level and they are running those companies effectively.”
Transformation in mining ‘has created jobs’
According to Ramaphosa, transformation in mining has not only diversified ownership but also created jobs, investment opportunities and skills development.
“So, if people come with this fallacy that BEE is an impediment to the growth of the economy, [they must] go to the mining industry and see what this democratic government has done,” he said.
“It has changed the landscape… and black people are participating to full effect.”
Ramaphosa argued that apartheid-era economic exclusion concentrated wealth and opportunity in the hands of a few while democracy broadened participation.
“The apartheid era was so bad for our country because it kept opportunities for a few people. Today, we have tens and tens of black-owned companies operating in that industry. It has opened up space, and making South Africa normal.”
The president also confronted what he described as racial undertones embedded in anti-BEE rhetoric.
“Those who say [BEE is] holding back the economy should hang their heads in shame,” he said.
“If they say so it means they wanted white people only to continue controlling the economy of our country. That cannot be, and that cannot be allowed. We are not going to allow that.”
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- President Cyril Ramaphosa passionately defended Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) in Parliament, stating it strengthened South Africa’s mining industry by allowing black entrepreneurs access previously dominated by white capital.
- He dismissed claims that BEE harms the economy as false and misleading, emphasizing that democratic reforms opened the sector beyond the control of a few mega companies that held mineral rights during apartheid.
- Ramaphosa highlighted the success of black-owned mining companies like Seriti Resources, which is 92% black-owned, supplying coal to Eskom and investing R6 billion in renewable energy, countering arguments that BEE impedes economic growth.
- He emphasized that transformation in mining has created jobs, investment opportunities, and skills development, enabling black South Africans to transition from laborers to owners and managers in the industry.
- Ramaphosa condemned anti-BEE rhetoric as racially motivated, asserting that maintaining white-only control over the economy is unacceptable and that the government is committed to inclusive economic participation.
President Cyril Ramaphosa used a heated parliamentary question-and-answer session to passionately defend black economic empowerment, arguing that
“I'd like to address this issue that is being thrown about. About BEE being an impediment to the growth of our economy,” Ramaphosa said emphatically.
“It is false. It is lies. It is just a slogan.”
Ramaphosa’s remarks touched directly on the mining industry, a sector that has since produced prominent black business figures such as Solly “My Sol” Madibela, whose rise in mining circles has become symbolic of how democratic reforms opened doors previously sealed shut during apartheid.
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“One of them actually said, ‘Once we are given mineral rights, they become our rights and they are like biltong. Dried up biltong, we just cut what we want, eat it and put it away’,” Ramaphosa said.
“But when the democratic government changed the law, and nationalised all the mineral rights in our country, it opened up space for black people to get into mining.”
Ramaphosa said the transformation of the sector allowed black
“
He noted that the company, which is 92% black-owned, has grown into a major mining and energy player supplying coal to Eskom while simultaneously investing heavily into renewable energy through Seriti Green as part of the country’s Just Energy Transition.
Ramaphosa told Parliament the company had already committed about R6 billion towards renewable energy expansion.
“How can anyone say, that has impeded our economy?” Ramaphosa asked.
“
“So, if people come with this fallacy that BEE is an impediment to the growth of the economy, [they must] go to the mining industry and see what this democratic government has done,” he said.
“It has changed the landscape... and black people are participating to full effect.”
Ramaphosa argued that apartheid-era economic exclusion concentrated wealth and opportunity in the hands of a few while democracy broadened participation.
“
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“If they say so it means they wanted white people only to continue controlling the economy of our country.
Visit SW YouTube Channel for our video content
