The South African government's mining policies and legislative environment have recently been criticised for the slowdown in mining industry's investment, with a R10-billion-a-year figure doing the rounds.Chamber of Mines chief economist Roger Baxter, however, argued at a recent debate in Johannesburg that it appeared that the country's mining investment had "turned the corner" and that the industry's investment grew by four percent in the last quarter of 2006.
But the survey, conducted by the Fraser Institute, showed that the current labour regulations and employment agreements were restraining investment in South Africa's mining industry, with 45 percent of respondents saying that it was a mild deterrent and 40 percent saying it was a strong deterrent.
Uncertainty regarding land claims was another concern limiting investment in the country. The survey reported that 42 percent of respondents viewed it as a strong deterrent, while 21 percent said that they would not invest in South Africa over fears of land claims.
