Deputy Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Phumzile Mgcina has reaffirmed the government’s position that South Africa’s mining sector is experiencing a resurgence, citing concrete progress in mineral exploration as key evidence.
Speaking at the South Africa Exploration Investment Forum in Cape Town—an event held alongside the Investing in Africa Mining Indaba—Mgcina highlighted the critical role of the Council for Geoscience (CGS). As the implementing body, the CGS is tasked with quantifying the nation’s mineral wealth across strategic commodities. Its ongoing work, she stated, reveals substantial untapped potential, supporting the characterization of South African mining as a “sunrise industry.”
This optimism is grounded in the operational success of the Junior Mining Exploration Fund (JMEF), a cornerstone of the national mineral exploration strategy designed to attract investment, restart development, and spur new discoveries. The first funding window allocated approximately R160 million to qualifying projects. The second window has drawn 80 applications targeting a diverse portfolio of minerals, including tin, tungsten, lithium, uranium, and rare earth elements.
Specific projects demonstrate this momentum. In Bothaville, Free State, a JMEF-supported initiative has progressed to intensive drilling for rare earth elements. Two projects in the Northern Cape are scheduled to begin drilling this year, while at least four others are in preliminary mapping and data acquisition phases. “Together, these projects confirm that South Africa’s subsurface potential is, indeed, far from fully understood and realised,” Mgcina said.
The fund’s financial backing has also grown significantly. Commitments now exceed R2 billion, a notable rise from the initial R400 million seed funding provided by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources and the Industrial Development Corporation.
Mgcina also announced the launch of the CGS’s Virtual Core Library, describing it as a “strategic national asset” for digital geological preservation. This platform aims to digitise historical drill core data, accelerating exploration decisions, reducing costs, and lowering barriers for junior explorers. It is intended to revitalise interest in underexplored regions while safeguarding the country’s geological heritage.
The Deputy Minister concluded by urging increased partnership from industry and investors, stressing that sustained exploration investment is essential for the long-term viability of the mining sector. The combined focus on targeted funding, project advancement, and digital innovation underscores a strategic push to unlock South Africa’s full mineral potential and secure its position as a competitive exploration destination.
