JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) –The Chamber of Mines advises that, following an approach by legal counsel representing Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane, it has reached an agreement with him through his legal counsel in respect of the chamber’s urgent interdict to prevent the implementation of Mining Charter Three, as published by the Department of Mineral Resources on June 15.

In terms of the agreement, the Minister has given a written undertaking that the controversial reviewed charter will not be implemented until judgement has been handed down on the chamber’s review application.

The chamber, headed by CEO Roger Baxter, has rendered the granting of an interdict by the court not necessary at this stage.

The Minister has also undertaken that if he makes any reference in public to the new charter, he will simultaneously make reference to his written undertaking and that the chamber has brought review proceedings to set aside the charter.

In the interests of expediting the review process, which is the industry’s primary focus, the chamber has agreed that the matter be heard on December 13 and 14 by a full bench of judges.

The Minister’s written undertaking will be presented to the High Court of Gauteng in Pretoria on September 14 for noting.