Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe has emphasised the importance of critical minerals in building economic growth and creating jobs in South Africa.

Addressing delegates at the G20 Critical Mineral Stakeholder meeting in Sandton, north of Johannesburg, Mantashe lamented the importation of raw minerals, which he says further exacerbates poverty and inequality in the country.

He says the critical minerals framework that has been developed in collaboration with G20 partners should serve as a cooperative blueprint to drive shared prosperity and sustainable development.

“South Africa’s G20 presidency provides a timely opportunity to focus on critical minerals as a priority area for collaborative effort. In this area, the G20 critical mineral stakeholder engagement seeks to unite governments, industry and knowledge institutions in translating the G20 critical mineral framework into a complete partnership and framework.

“Given the strategic importance of mineral resources, G20 countries are collaboratively developing the G20 Mineral framework to promote secure and sustainable value chains,” Mantashe says.

[G20 𝙆𝙀𝙔𝙉𝙊𝙏𝙀 𝘼𝘿𝘿𝙍𝙀𝙎𝙎]
“resource-rich countries face a predicament where they not only export minerals in their raw form, but they equally export the jobs and profits that ought to accrue to them, consequently perpetuating poverty and inequality” — Minister… pic.twitter.com/pOdT0vTF7J

— Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources ‏ (@DMPR_ZA) July 29, 2025