The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) serves as the custodian of South Africa’s vast mineral wealth and petroleum potential. Guided by the Minister, Hon. Gwede Mantashe, and Deputy Minister, Hon. Phumzile Mgcina, the Department ensures that the exploitation of natural resources contributes to sustainable economic growth, energy security, and community development.
At the administrative helm is the Director-General, Mr. Jacob Mbele, who leads a professional management team responsible for translating government policy into action. Together they drive a vision of a transformed, inclusive, and technologically advanced minerals and energy sector that benefits all South Africans.
Our Programmes and Mandate
DMPR fulfils its mandate through four core programmes that collectively uphold accountability, innovation, and sector transformation:
Programme 1 – Corporate & Financial Services: Provides strategic leadership in administration, finance, human resources, ICT, and corporate governance, ensuring that the Department operates efficiently and transparently.
Programme 2 – Mineral & Petroleum Regulation: Oversees exploration licensing, environmental compliance, and equitable access to mineral and petroleum resources. Under the direction of DDG Tseliso Maqubela and DDG Mmadikeledi Moloto, this programme safeguards responsible extraction and investment.
Programme 3 – Mine Health & Safety: Headed by DDG David Msiza, this programme promotes a zero-harm culture in mining operations, enforcing regulations that protect lives and enhance sustainable production.
Programme 4 – Mining & Minerals Policy Development: Led by DDG Ntokozo Nzimande, this branch crafts policies that encourage innovation, downstream beneficiation, and economic inclusion within the minerals value chain.
Our People
Behind every policy and initiative is a dedicated team of professionals. The Department boasts a staff complement of 1 130 employees across the country, of which 57.69 percent are women. Gender equity remains central to our institutional culture, reflected in the fact that 41.34 percent of senior managers and 66.6 percent of Deputy Directors-General are female.
This commitment to diversity ensures balanced decision-making, innovation, and a workplace that mirrors the inclusive future DMPR seeks to create for the national economy.
Strategic Partnerships and State-Owned Entities
The Department exercises oversight over a number of State-Owned Entities (SOEs) that play pivotal roles in the advancement of mineral research, beneficiation, and energy resilience. In the petroleum sector, entities such as CEF Group, PetroSA, iGas, SFF and SANPC drive national fuel storage, exploration, and distribution infrastructure. Within the mining sector, Mintek, Council for Geoscience, State Diamond Trader, South African Diamond and Precious Metals Regulator, and African Exploration Mining and Finance Corporation (AEMFC) advance innovation, research, and transformation.
Together, these institutions anchor South Africa’s strategy for a sustainable, low-carbon, and inclusive minerals-energy economy.
National Footprint
While policy and coordination are managed from the Head Office in Pretoria, the Department maintains a strong provincial presence through regional offices in Cape Town, Durban, Witbank, Welkom, Kimberley, Polokwane, Port Elizabeth, and Rustenburg. These offices serve as direct links to communities, industry stakeholders, and small-scale miners—ensuring that government services and compliance monitoring remain accessible nationwide.
This extensive footprint enables DMPR to uphold safety standards, facilitate licensing, and promote sustainable resource development in every province of South Africa.
A Department in Motion
DMPR continues to evolve as a centre of excellence in mineral and petroleum governance. Through innovation, gender empowerment, inter-governmental collaboration, and partnerships with academia and the private sector, the Department is charting a path toward responsible resource management that benefits both present and future generations.