South African Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe has criticised Western countries for defining “critical minerals” to serve their own interests, sidelining Africa’s broader economic needs. Speaking at the Mining Indaba in Cape Town on Monday, he said South Africa and other African nations should not cower in fear of US threats. He stated: “let us withhold minerals to the US … If they don’t give us money, let’s not give them minerals … we are not just beggars. Let us use that endowment for our benefit. If, as a continent, we are [paralysed] with fear, we are going to collapse, but with minerals at our doorstep … We cannot continue to debate these minerals based on the dictates of some developed nations as if we have no aspirations to accelerate Africa’s industrialisation and close the development deficit. We must avoid the race to the bottom.” Mantashe’s comments follow statements by President Cyril Ramaphosa that he hoped to discuss South Africa’s land policy with the US administration after US President Donald Trump said it was a good reason to suspend all aid to the country.
