[MEDIA STATEMENT] DEPARTMENT CLARIFIES POSITION ON BAPEDI KINGDOM / SAMANCOR CHROME LITIGATION | PRETORIA | 19 SEPTEMBER 2026

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The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources has noted recent media reports concerning the litigation involving the Bapedi Kingdom, Samancor Chrome Ltd and rehabilitation activities on the Wintersveld and Jagdlust farms in Limpopo. The Department wishes to place the current position on record and clarify certain aspects of the proceedings and its role in the matter.

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MEDIA STATEMENT

DEPARTMENT CLARIFIES POSITION ON BAPEDI KINGDOM / SAMANCOR CHROME

LITIGATION

Pretoria, 19 September 2026 — The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources has noted

recent media reports concerning the litigation involving the Bapedi Kingdom, Samancor Chrome

Ltd and rehabilitation activities on the Wintersveld and Jagdlust farms in Limpopo. The

Department wishes to place the current position on record and clarify certain aspects of the

proceedings and its role in the matter.

Samancor Chrome Ltd has held a mining right over the Wintersveld and Jagdlust farms since

2016. In December 2025, the Bapedi Kingdom obtained an ex parte order of the High Court

authorising rehabilitation works on the properties through Envirostep (Pty) Ltd and interdicting

unlawful mining activities.

The Department was cited as a respondent in those proceedings. Following legal advice from the

State Attorney, the Department elected not to oppose or participate in the application. The mining

right holder was not cited in the proceedings. The order was subsequently varied in February 2026

to apply to the Wintersveld and Jagdlust farms. Samancor Chrome was still not cited at that stage.

In May 2026, following the seizure by the South African Police Service (SAPS) of Envirostep’s

equipment, the Bapedi Kingdom obtained a further ex parte order restraining SAPS and the

Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources from interfering with the rehabilitation activities.

SAPS subsequently opposed the matter.

The Department understands that the matter was argued at a joint hearing on 31 July 2026,

following which judgment was reserved. As at the date of this statement, the Department is not

aware of any judgment having been handed down or of any further court order in the matter.

The Department has noted media reports concerning its role in the proceedings and wishes to

place the following facts on record. The Department was cited as a respondent but following legal

advice elected not to oppose the application. This decision should not be interpreted as an

endorsement of the relief sought by the applicant, nor as the Department taking a position in the underlying dispute between the parties. The Department’s involvement arises from its statutory

regulatory responsibilities under the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002

(MPRDA).

The Department further wishes to clarify that the court order did not suspend or set aside a mining

“licence” held by the Department. The Department does not hold a mining right or licence over the

properties in question. The mining right relevant to these proceedings is held by Samancor

Chrome Ltd and is the subject of the ongoing litigation.

The Department is also aware of reports alleging that it failed to discharge its regulatory

responsibilities. These allegations form part of the issues raised by a party to the proceedings and,

as the matter remains before the court, have not been judicially determined. They should therefore

not be presented as established findings against the Department.

The Department emphasises that the matter has not, to its knowledge, been finally determined or

settled. Judgment has been reserved since 31 July 2026, and the Department is not aware of any

subsequent ruling. The Department respects the judicial process and will continue to discharge its

statutory responsibilities while the proceedings remain pending.

The Department also continues to cooperate with law-enforcement agencies where allegations of

criminality in the minerals sector arise and will work with the relevant authorities in accordance with

its legislative mandate.

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Enquiries: Lerato Ntsoko |0824592788 | lerato.ntsoko@dmpr.gov.za /mediadesk@dmpr.gov.za

Issued by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources