South Africa

Population (World Bank): 60,414,495 (2023)

Metal/Ore Exports (% of Total Merchandise Exports, World Bank): 29.1% (2023)

Petroleum Production (Million barrels per day, EIA): 105 Mb/d (2024)

Human Development Index (World Rank, UNDP): 110

2021 Resource Governance Index Score (NRGI): Not Available

EITI Status: None

Link to key economic information (Atlas of Economic Complexity)

Policy documents that include local content relevant provisions:

• Broad-Based Black Socio-Economic Empowerment Charter for the South African Mining and Minerals Industry, 2018

• Implementation Guidelines for the Broad-Based Black Socio-Economic Empowerment Charter for the South African Mining Industry, 2018

• Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Regulations, 2011

• Codes of Good Practice for Minerals Industry, 2009

• Petroleum Products Amendment Act, 2005

• Precious Metals Act, 2005

• Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002

• The Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act, 2000

• Charter for the South African Petroleum and Liquid Fuels Industry, 2000

Renewable energy local content policy documents:

• Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP)

Local Content Relevant News:

• July 2025 - Local renewable energy supply chains cry fowl over alleged loophole in SARS “staged consignments” import concession

• June 2025 - JA Solar, ARTsolar agree to expand PV module manufacturing in South Africa

• April 2025 - South Africa targeting up to 5 GW of new renewables per year

• March 2025 - South Africa has launched a new bidding process for renewable energy projects through Window 7 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (REIPPPP).

• December 2024 - The South African Ministry of Energy has announced the preferred bidders for renewable energy-related procurement programmes, including a local content quota for solar projects

• November 2024 - The deputy Minister of Energy and Electricity of South Africa stressed the need for local content in renewables

• July 2023 — Comment on SA renewable energy masterplan and localization

• June 2023 — SA, Kenya spearheading renewables sector in Sub-Saharan Africa

• February 2023 — Nordex continues to see opportunity in South Africa despite recent headwinds

• January 2023 — South Africa lowers local content requirements for modules to speed up solar deployment

• September 2022 – More local focus as Zest WEG launches new motor assembly line

• September 2022 – Local sourcing makes good business sense

• January 2022 – Kumba concludes R1.6 billion black-owned community mining contract

• January 2022 – Ideologues do the jobless a disservice by turning localisation into a swearword

• November 2021 – South Africa will not appeal ruling on mining charter’s Black empowerment clauses

• November 2021 — Joint Statement: International Just Energy Transition Partnership

• October 2021 – South Africa to appeal mining charter ruling

• September 2021 – 2018 Mining Charter is policy, not law

• July 2021 – De Beers drives true diamond beneficiation transformation

• July 2021 – IZA calls for a new zinc refinery to be built in South Africa

• June 2021 – South African government failure threatens 80 000 jobs

• March 2019 – SA Mining Supply Chain Firms Struggling but Current Efforts Raise Hopes of Better Fortunes

• February 2019 – Local Manufacturers to Benefit from Mining Charter 3’s Implementation

• September 2018 – Stop Exporting Jobs-Mines Told

• September 2018 – Mantashe Confirms Gazetting of Mining Charter 3

• August 2018 – Mining Commission Calls for Mining Licence Holders to Submit Local Content Compliance Plan (Paywall)

• June 2018 – Multotec is First up for SABS Local Content Verification

• June 2018 – Public has 30 days to Comment as Mantashe Releases Long-awaited Draft Mining Charter

• April 2018 – South African Miners Win Court Fight on Black Ownership Rule (Paywall)

• July 2017 – Chamber’s Interdict Application Likely to Succeed - Attorney

Analysis and Case Studies:

• Burton et al. (2024) — Assessing the economy-wide effect of localising renewable energy value chains in South Africa

• Mosweu (2021) – Evaluation of the application of legal provisions on local content and sub-contracting in South Africa

• Exxaro and Mining Review Africa (2021) – SMMEs hold the key to South Africa’s economic growth

• Bam and De Bruyne (2019) – Beneficiation is Touted as a Silver Bullet. Why it might not be

• Mining Review Africa (2019) – TECH NEWS: Transforming the Industrial Landscape in South Africa

• Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals, and Sustainable Development (2018) – South Africa: Horizontal Linkages

• IGF (2018) – South Africa: Direct Employment

• IGF (2018) – South Africa: Upstream Linkages

• Geipel et al. (2017) – The Relationship Between Local Procurement Strategies of Mining Companies & Their Regulatory Environments: A Comparison of South Africa and Namibia

• Korinek and Ramdoo (2017) – Local Content Policies in Minerals-Exporting Countries: The Case of South Africa

• African Natural Resource Center and African Development Bank (2016) – Anglo American Corporation’s Zimele Enterprise Program

• Ramirez (2016) – The role of policies and regulations in expanding local procurement in the mining industry in Sub-Saharan Africa

• Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (2016) – Downstream Beneficiation Case Study: The Republic of South Africa 

• Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (2015) – Local Content: South Africa: Mining & Petroleum

• Kaplan (2011) – South African mining equipment and related services: Growth, constraints and policy

Relevant Initiatives:

• Anglo Zimele

  • 2020 COVID-19 Update, Paving the Way for SMME Success

  • 2016-2017 Update, Procurement and Enterprise Development

  • 2008 Project Report, The Anglo Zimele Model: A Corporate Risk Capital Facility Experience

• UNDP Supplier Development Programme

• Anglo Coal, Edge Growth Project

• Mining TARA

• Mining Equipment Manufacturers of South Africa (Memsa)

• Center for Supplier Development Black Business Supplier Development Program (BBSDP)