The Mineral Resources Development Amendment Bill (“MRDB/Bill”) will mainly impact rural and mining-affected communities in South Africa. It introduces many changes to South Africa’s mining laws. Once the MRDB becomes law, it will amend the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act of 2002 (MPRDA). Petroleum resources will now fall under the Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Act of 2024 (UPRDA).
The Bill aims to introduce artisanal and small-scale mining permits, change the definition of community and meaningful consultation, introduces the definition of interested and affected parties, and give effect to Section 24 of the Constitution (the right to a healthy environment).
The Bill aims to speed up mining projects and ensure that more minerals are processed in South Africa instead of being sold raw to other countries.
This factsheet was developed by Natural Justice in August 2025.
CLICK HERE to find a summary of the Bill.
