Deputy Speaker, hon members, the answer to the question is as follows: The principle of state custodianship of the nation's mineral resources confers on the Minister of Minerals and Energy the authority and power to drive, direct and enforce transformation in the minerals and mining sector.
The transformation referred to in the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, MPRDA, is driven and directed within the context of government constitutional obligations enunciated in the section 9 equality clause of our Constitution and the transformation policy and agenda of this government.
The mining charter and the social labour plans - that would include the environmental management plan, as well as the BEE plan - are the instruments in terms of which transformation is enforced in the minerals and mining sector.
As a country which respects the rule of law, failure to implement transformation vigorously would amount to the violation and the undermining of the very foundation and fabric of this democracy, as well as the Constitution of South Africa.
In this regard my department will continue to drive, to direct and enforce transformation in the minerals and mining sector without fear or favour. This government's objective is to ensure that the South African minerals and mining sector reflects the demographic representation of this country.
I must say that the charter has gone a long way in ensuring that there is significant participation of previously excluded people in this sector. We have seen a lot of black people as partners in the industry. This is also happening at a professional level but we will ensure that the number of black-owned and controlled mining and minerals companies is increased over time and that the number of blacks at management levels in this sector is also increased.
We are confident that we will achieve the transformation objectives of this government through this Act. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.