Speaker, the Department of Mineral Resources is in a terrible state of affairs. Kumba is taking the Department of Mineral Resources to court over alleged fraudulent manipulation by Imperial Crown Trading of the application submitted to the department. It is therefore concerning that the department is in possession of all the alleged fraudulent documents on which Kumba is basing their court application.
If the court finds that the application by Imperial Crown Trading was falsified and was indeed based on the documents emanating from the department, then the department could well be criticised for closing its eyes to the fraudulent activity or, even worse, be alleged to have been an accomplice in manipulating applications in favour of ANC-linked politicians.
Another issue of concern is a Lonmin-Keysha investment matter where Keysha obtained rights to so-called associated minerals at the expense of an established miner, Lonmin. While the department urges that the Act is not clear on the issue of associated minerals, it continued with the issuing of a prospecting right to Keysha investments, an entity with connections to the ANC and with no proven record in mining or ability to have access to funding requirements. Now the Minister, knowing that her department is out of control, has instituted a six month moratorium on prospecting despite the law not providing for such a draconian measure. Thank you, sir. [Time expired.]