South Africa's Investment Attractiveness Index (IAI) in mining increased by 11.85 points in 2025. This means it improved its rank from 68th out of 82 jurisdictions in 2024 to 57th out of 68 in 2025.
according to Fraser Institute In Canada's annual survey, South African mining companies showed their strongest and growing concerns over the availability of skilled labor (+15 points), the taxation regime (+13 points), and trade barriers (+11 points). The biggest decreases in concern were about labor rules (-17 points), socioeconomic agreements (-11 points) and political stability (-2 points).
mining production in 2025
south african mining Production to increase by only 0.1% in 2025. This was followed by an increase of 0.5% in 2024 and no change in 2023. Mining output has actually fallen 6.4% since 2019. The decline in mining production since 2019 is largely due to Transnet's extended period of poor performance.
decline from 2019
Between 2019 and 2023, the volume of bulk exports, which are mostly mining products such as coal, chrome ore, iron ore and manganese ore, is expected to decline by 10.4%. It was only low volumes of precious metals and diamonds that prevented mining output from matching the large decline in wholesale export volumes.
Mineral Council view
The Minerals Council said the competitiveness of the mining sector is hampered by rapidly rising government administered prices such as electricity, rail and port charges. The council said the mining industry's prospects depend on continued improvement in Transnet's rail volumes, stabilization in electricity supply and regulatory certainty.
The Council had last year welcomed a new service provider for the cadastral system of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE). This is an important step towards reviving the country's mining sector, especially exploration and development.
Democratic Alliance's perspective
In May 2025, Democratic Alliance MP James Lorimer described the new minerals bill as a disaster. He said the bill would effectively end the already shaky case of foreign investment in South African mining.
The bill seeks to double down on racial change and brings back many of the worst ideas that were struck down by the courts in the struggle over the final version of the mining charter, which was pushed by the now disgraced minister Mosebenzi Zwane.
He said, “There is very little thought given to the Bill. It is contradictory and vague in places. It gives the Minister new powers to rule over the industry as he wishes.”