South Africa stands at a decisive moment for its mining industry, shaped not only by rising global demand for critical minerals but also by leveraging the knowledge, skills and research capacity required to extract them responsibly, efficiently and competitively.
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Minerals and Petroleum Minister Gwede Mantashe, writing in the document Critical Minerals and Metals Strategy South Africa 2025, stressed that the country’s critical minerals and metals strategy outlines a clear and coordinated roadmap to leverage these natural resources in a manner that promotes inclusive growth, industrial development, job creation, and economic transformation.
“It prioritises exploration, beneficiation at source, research and development, regional integration, financial instruments and energy security, guided by our constitutional commitment to environmental sustainability, social justice, and economic equity.
“This strategy is not just a policy framework, it recognises that the future of our country is inextricably linked to how we develop and manage our mineral wealth.
Mantashe stressed that by strengthening the country’s industrial base and increasing its capacity for value addition, South Africa can unlock significant employment opportunities, stimulate innovation, and advance economic growth priorities.
Many countries are ensuring security of access to critical minerals to aid their own development and energy transition efforts. The World Bank confirms that minerals will be needed at scales significantly beyond current production levels and estimates a surge in demand for critical minerals of up to 500 per cent by 2050 (WBG, 2018). This driver for a scramble for critical minerals presents opportunities for innovation, industrial expansion, orderly global trade and diplomacy and most importantly, employment creation and economic growth.
According to the report, estimates suggest that local processing and beneficiation of critical minerals could create 2.3 million jobs and increase the African continent’s GDP by 12%.
Although South Africa ranks among the leading producers of various critical minerals, its mineral value chains are primarily upstream, focused on extraction and export with limited beneficiation and value addition.
There are established powers in Africa’s critical mineral value chain —the European Union (EU), the United States (US), Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), and Russia—as well as emerging powers - China, Japan, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Saudi Arabia.
India has taken a different approach - taking a systematic approach to align African priorities with Indian interests.
International interest in African critical minerals acknowledges the continent’s centrality to the global energy transition and offers an opportunity to adopt a resource-fueled growth trajectory.
India’s relationship with Africa and critical minerals is based on mutual respect and these core principles: Increase downstream value addition; Build capacity and upskill the mining workforce; Mainstream responsible mining practices; Address knowledge and information asymmetry; Utilise technology solutions across the mining value chain; Develop mining-adjacent infrastructure; Create regional industrial networks; Forge international collaborations and Diversify energy partnerships.
India’s pitch to Africa is couched in the language of capacity-building, sustainable investment, and digital public infrastructure. Africa holds nearly 30 per cent of the world’s critical mineral reserves. Yet for decades, its nations have mostly exported raw ore without developing domestic refining or value chains. India’s model, offers a corrective: joint ventures in processing, skill-sharing, digital governance, and local employment.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a visit to Namibia in 2025, spoke of the importance of beneficiation for the African continent.
“In 2018, I had laid out ten principles of our engagement with Africa. Today, I reaffirm India’s full commitment to them. They are based on respect, equality, and mutual benefit. We seek not to compete, but to cooperate. Our goal is to build together. Not to take, but to grow together.”
Modi said India’s development partnership in Africa is worth over 12 billion dollars, but that its real value is in shared growth and shared purpose.
“We believe that Africa must not be just a source of raw materials. Africa must lead in value creation and sustainable growth. That is why we fully support Africa’s Agenda 2063 for industrialisation. We are ready to expand our cooperation in Defence and Security. India values Africa’s role in world affairs. We championed Africa’s voice during our G20 presidency. And we proudly welcomed the African Union as a permanent member of the G20.”
India is positioning itself as Africa’s development partner of choice: one that shares historical solidarity, offers technology and expertise, and leaves behind colonial-era baggage.
Deepening India–South Africa trade relations is not only economically prudent — it is a strategic investment in shared prosperity, industrial renewal, and long-term growth.
* Professor Govender is an academic and a keen observer of issues related to international relations.
** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.