The Department of Mineral Resources was able to split from the erstwhile Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) to become a stand alone department on 01 April 2010 as planned. Subsequent to the State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) delivered by the President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Jacob Zuma, on February 2011, the Minister of Finance delivered his Budget Speech on February 2011. In his speech, the Minister allocated funds to the priorities identified in the SONA.