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Gwede Mantashe

Gwede Mantashe is a South African politician serving as Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, a portfolio he has held since 2018 when the two departments were merged. He is a South African national and a senior member of the African National Congress (ANC), having previously served as the party's secretary-general from 2007 to 2017 and as national chairperson from 2017. Mantashe's career path includes a background in mining: he worked as a mineworker and later as a trade union official, rising to become general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) from 1998 to 2006. His influence spans the energy and mining sectors, where he has been a vocal advocate for the development of South Africa's coal, oil and gas resources, as well as nuclear energy, often emphasising energy security and economic growth. He has been a central figure in policy debates around the country's energy transition, the Integrated Resource Plan, and the licensing of new mining and petroleum exploration projects. Mantashe recurs in coverage of South Africa's energy crisis, mining regulation, and the balance between fossil fuel development and renewable energy commitments. His tenure has seen ongoing controversy over the pace of renewable energy adoption, the role of independent power producers, and the future of state-owned enterprises in the energy sector. Before entering full-time politics, his union leadership during the turbulent 1980s and 1990s established him as a key figure in the labour movement and the broader struggle against apartheid.

Gwede Mantashe Updates

Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe.

New cadastre processing W Cape mining licence applications, Parliament hears 

By: Martin Creamer     4th June 2026 The phased rollout of the new online mining licensing system – the cadastre – is progressing steadily, with Western Cape applications being... 

Eskom generation head Bheki Nxumalo

South Africa set to run coal stations longer as gas projects lag

By: Bloomberg     28th May 2026 South Africa is poised to delay the retirement of about a fifth of its coal-fired electricity-generation capacity as gas projects earmarked to... 

Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe

A bad day for Gwede

6th May 2026 Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe suffered two hammer blows to his credibility yesterday. His ministry wrongly calculated the... 

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EFF logo

EFF demands urgent Parly sitting over fuel price hikes 

By: Thabi Shomolekae     4th May 2026 The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has "vehemently rejected" the government's temporary, reactive measures in response to rising fuel costs,... 

Cabinet offers fuel assurances as task team mulls response measures

Cabinet offers fuel assurances as task team mulls response measures

By: Terence Creamer     2nd April 2026 President Cyril Ramaphosa has established a Ministerial Task Team to coordinate government’s response to the impact on the cost of living, fuel and... 

Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana

PSA welcomes Fuel Levy relief, calls for stronger government intervention amid rising cost-of-living crisis

1st April 2026 The Public Servants Association (PSA) notes and welcomes the announcement by the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, and the Minister of Mineral... 

Image of Enoch Godongwana

Daily Podcast – March 31, 2026

By: Thabi Shomolekae     31st March 2026 Making headlines: Godongwana, Mantashe confirm R3/l fuel levy reduction for April; Kenya's inflation rises slightly to 4.4% year-on-year in March;... 

Image of Dr Mark Burke

DA welcomes fuel levy cut, urges efficient spending not more debt 

By: Thabi Shomolekae     31st March 2026 The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Tuesday welcomed the R3-a-litre fuel levy decrease, with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana coming within close... 

Fuel pumps

Organisations welcome fuel price relief but call for further measures

By: Creamer Media Reporter      31st March 2026 Agriculture representative bodies AgriSA and Agbiz have welcomed the announcement by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and Mineral and Petroleum... 

Minerals Council South Africa president Paul Dunne.

Positive signs of upcoming mining law reform, PGMs Industry Day hears 

By: Martin Creamer     19th March 2026 Minerals Council South Africa is seeing positive signals from government as it awaits the second draft of South Africa’s proposed Mineral Resources... 

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