10 November 2008

Programme director,
Minister of Land and Resources of the People’s Republic of China, Minister Xu Shaoshi,
Captains of the mining industry from South Africa, People’s Republic of China and elsewhere in the world,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great honour for me to extend a warm welcome to you this morning to the South African Mining Seminar here in China. As South Africa celebrates the 10th successive year of diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, depicting the political will of the respective countries to co-operate on various areas on common interest, we deemed it appropriate to assemble a multi-stakeholder platform, with particular emphasis on reciprocal investment prospects between the two countries.

The seminar is intended to focus on existing opportunities for Chinese and other foreign companies here present to partner with South African companies and communities in the mining industry. Notwithstanding the current financial challenge, which we project will have a limited shelf life, I believe that the relationships envisaged between our respective companies are intended for long-term periods.

One of the oldest Chinese proverbs has never been more applicable than today, namely: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step”. We all should remember that when former President Mandela announced South Africa’s intention to recognise the People’s Republic of China ten years ago, that was indeed a small step. In this context I believe South Africa’s journey with the People’s Republic of China has progressed remarkably towards its intended objective of increasing bi-national trade.

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Introduction

Programme director
Honourable Ministers
Distinguished guests
Senior Government Officials

Ladies and gentlemen

On behalf of the people of South Africa, I extend to you all a warm and hearty welcome as we convene for the 13th annual Mining Indaba Conference here in Cape Town. It is apt for me to congratulate the organisers of this conference, the IIC, for continuing to successfully facilitate this level of knowledge and information exchange among stakeholders in the mining industry. I am pleased to see my counterparts from other parts of the continent as well as local and international participants at this critical juncture in the mining industry.

The past few weeks have been characterised by global economic instability, which is being underpinned by news of the looming economic recession in the USA. The mining industry has not been immune to this development, although we view this development as a short-term correction and believe the fundamentals remain in place for a prolonged demand growth for the bulk of the mineral commodities.

The African Economic Reforms

Since the late 1970s, the African countries have been in search of a policy framework to guide a continent wide fundamental socio-economic transformation that would enable them to overcome the pervasive structural weaknesses. It was not until the last decade or so, that African countries undertook economic reforms to invigorate their respective economies through positive development philosophy. Read the rest of this entry »

Buyelwa Patience Sonjica was appointed to the high-profile position of South Africa’s Minister of Minerals and Energy on May 22, 2006, after serving as Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry from April 2004 to May 2006. Before that post, she served as Deputy Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology.

Ms. Sonjica’s interesting and extensive political career began in 1976 when, inspired by the Black Consciousness Movement, she became involved in student politics in the East London area of South Africa. She also joined the activities of the Mass Democratic Movement, including the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the National Education Union of South Africa (NEUSA). She then became an active member of the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) from its inception.

Her academic qualifications include a Secondary Teachers Certificate and a Bachelor of Arts degree, both from Vista University, Port Elizabeth, and a Bachelor of Arts honours from Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa. She is also currently attaining a Diploma in Economics at the University of London.

Between 1992 and 1994, Ms. Sonjica was elected to the Regional Executive Committee of the African National Congress (ANC), ANC Women’s League (ANCWL), and ANC Regional Working Committee. She headed the ANC’s Department of Arts in the old Eastern Cape region, involved in both the transformation of the arts and the development of the ANC policy under famed South African writer, poet and politician Wally Serote, then national co-ordinator.

In 1994, she was elected to Parliament serving on the first Parliamentary Portfolio Committee of Arts and Culture. She also served on the portfolio committees on finance, trade and industry, as well as water affairs and forestry. In 1995, she became Chairperson of the Select Committee on Child Care Facilities.  From 1994 till 1999, she was an ANC Whip.

Ms. Sonjica was born on March 23, 1950.

Bio Supplied to Republic of Mining.com