16 Feb 2023

The Ministry of Minerals and Energy is keen to grant mining rights to local communities where mineral resources, including pit and river sands, are abundant.

Answering a question in Parliament on Wednesday, minerals and energy minister, Mr Lefoko Moagi said such rights would be granted provided communities had organised themselves and formed trust companies to carry out mining businesses.

He said some communities had previously, through their village development committees (VDCs), applied and were granted minerals permits for river sand mining.

“Unfortunately for these VDCs the mining projects collapsed as a result of mismanagement and squabbles by members over proceeds.

Otherwise currently community members who have applied for mining rights as individuals continue to benefit from mining pit sand and river sand,” he said

Member of Parliament for Selebi Phikwe East, Mr Kgoberego Nkawana had asked the minister if he would consider, where possible, allocating head lease and extraction licenses for river sand and pit sand to local communities. ends