Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe (centre) and De Beers Group CEO Al Cook (far right). Picture: Supplied
WHILE De Beers Sightholder Sales South Africa (DBSSSA) officially unveiled its new rough diamond sorting, valuation and sales facility in Johannesburg recently, the minister of Mineral Resources and Energy has asked De Beers not to leave the Northern Cape.
The relocation event was attended by Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe and Gauteng MEC for Economic Development Tasneem Motara as well as De Beers Group CEO Al Cook.
De Beers Group announced in January that it was relocating its Sightholder Sales activities in South Africa from Kimberley, where it has been operating since 1974, to Johannesburg following a review of its sorting activities in the country.
According to De Beers, the relocation supports the government’s strategy to consolidate the country’s mineral beneficiation sector into one area at the Gauteng Industrial Development Zone (GIDZ), close to the OR Tambo International Airport.
The relocation also supports the company’s evolving footprint in the country over the past decade, with the world-class Venetia mine in the Limpopo Province being its only active mine.
“With no mining activities in the Northern Cape since 2015, De Beers is consolidating its remaining operations to be in close proximity to provide efficiency in operating costs, greater effectiveness and to contribute towards the country’s national beneficiation agenda,” the group said.
De Beers said a total of 87 employees were successfully relocated from Kimberley to the new 6 747-metre square facility in Sky Park Industrial in Johannesburg, which has two floors comprising Sightholder offices, hand and machine sorting areas, a training academy and a diamond cleaning plant.
Mantashe congratulated De Beers, but also asked the diamond giant not to leave the Northern Cape.
“You've got too many holes in the Northern Cape, you can't make those holes and then disappear, something must happen,” said Mantashe.
“While we congratulate De Beers for the grand opening of the sightholder sales facility, we also welcome the R35 billion investment in the underground mining in Limpopo.
“We encourage you to continue investing in South African mining, particularly in the Northern Cape and other provinces. Doing so will help us change the economic architecture, which stands on three legs - Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape.”
Cook said De Beers was making a huge investment of R35bn going into the underground project at its Venetia mine. He said the mine was going to be incredible and advanced.
“I think what really caught the interest of the minister, and rightfully so, is the investments we're making even beyond that, in exploration, including in the Northern Cape.
De Beers said DBSSSA is part of the Global Sightholder Sales network that sells rough diamonds for beneficiation purposes in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Canada.
De Beers Group managing director Moses Madondo said South Africa was a significant source of rough diamonds.
“Aside from helping to upskill the industry, it is important for us as diamond producers to assist small beneficiation customers with access to affordable parcels of rough diamonds. We are excited to now be located in the beneficiation hub where we can continue working with our partners to further support the local beneficiation industry,” he said.
Madondo said South Africa was sharply focused on being internationally competitive.
“With the government’s support as envisaged through the GIDZ, the country is well placed to support the growth of its beneficiation sector,” he said.
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