JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The Chamber of Mines has rebranded and is now the Minerals Council South Africa (MCSA) in line with its quest to reposition the sector as South Africa’s  preeminent industrial sector, while building a new legacy and creating a “future that all South African can be proud of”, MCSA president Mxolisi Mgojo announced on Wednesday.

He revealed the council's new brand identity and logo at the MCSA newly refurbished building in the Johannesburg central business district.  

The MCSA brand is meant to symbolise a shared, proud legacy and envisages a new chapter in history, where the MCSA’s members, government and labour unite to drive competitiveness, transformation and innovation.

Mgojo noted that the council would act as “guardians and leaders of a . . . better tomorrow.”

MCSA CEO Roger Baxter added that the council envisages an industry that is progressive, transformed, innovative and modernised.

The council has also coined the hashtag #Making Mining Matter.

Mgojo quoted advocate Thuli Madonsela as saying that “for a new dawn to emerge . . . it requires great ethical leadership, and to be attuned to the true needs and realities of the country”.

He stated that the council strives to understand the disparities and inequalities in South African society and play a constructive and positive role in building the country. He noted that the council recognised its history was not without flaws, but hoped the rebranding would assist in “press[ing] the reboot button with stakeholders.”

Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe lauded the council’s evolution post-Apartheid and noted that the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) looked forward to its continued engagement with the “reconfigured council.”

In addition to the Department of Mineral Resources delegation, MCSA members, previous Chamber of Mines presidents and African National Congress subcommittee on economic transformation chairperson Enoch Godongwana, were also in attendance.