REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA COMBINED SECOND PERIODIC REPORT UNDER THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLE`S RIGHTS
and INITIAL REPORT UNDER THE PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN AFRICA
new order mining rights within five years (i.e. by 1 May 2009), and prospecting rights
within two years (i.e. by 1 May 2006). Otherwise, these old order rights would be
permanently extinguished. The MPRDA was subsequently amendment by virtue of the
Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Act, 2008253 which vests
the Minister with discretionary powers to afford communities participation privileges in
new prospecting and mining ventures and when authorising the conversion of old order
mining rights.
481.
Government has also launched a Settlement Implementation Support Strategy to provide
post settlement support aimed at ensuring sustainability of land reform projects,
including restitution projects. The new small-scale fishing policy will ensure the equality
of traditional small scale fishers in their access to the marine resources.
482.
The Policy for the Small Scale Fisheries Sector in South Africa was gazetted in June 2012.
The policy aims to provide redress and recognition to the rights of small scale fisher
communities in South Africa who were previously marginalised and discriminated against
in terms of racially exclusionary laws and policies. The policy entrenches the principles
of preferential access to small scale fishing communities who have traditionally depended
on marine living resources for their livelihood. It adopts a multiple species approach in
allocating fishing rights to small scale fishers, adopts a co-management approach to
manage the sector and includes the integration of ecosystems and that the sustainability
of the resource is not compromised.
483.
Cases of note in the period under review include Maccsand (Pty) Ltd v City of Cape
Town254 where the intersection between the MPRDA and National Environmental
Management Act, 1998255 was considered in light of section 24 of the Constitution. The
court confirmed the SCA decision that, where mining is not permitted by a zoning
scheme, the holder of a mining right or permit cannot start to mine, unless and until the
land is rezoned to allow mining. The court held that the MPRDA is intended to promote
section 24 of the Constitution.
484.
In Agri South Africa v Minister for Minerals and Energy256 the court considered whether
or not the commencement of the MPRDA amounted to the expropriation of mineral
rights from those who, prior to its enactment, were owners of mineral rights. The Court
held that while the MPRDA deprived the applicant of its mineral rights, this deprivation
did not amount to expropriation.
Article 22: Rights to development
485.
In 2009, South Africa adopted the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF, 2009–2014)
as its five-year statement of intent. The MTSF identifies the development challenges
253
Act No. 49 of 2008
2012 (7) BCLR 690 (CC)
255
Act No. 107 of 1998
256
2013 (4) SA 1 (CC)
254
132