CAPE TOWN – South African Mining Minister Gwede Mantashe threatened to halt mineral exports to the United States on Tuesday, escalating tensions after former US president Donald Trump announced plans to cut aid over South Africa’s land reform policies.
“If they don’t give us money, let’s not give them minerals,” Mantashe declared at the Investing in African Mining Indaba, urging African nations to leverage their mineral wealth against external pressure.
Speaking at Africa’s largest mining conference, Mantashe emphasized the continent’s dominant position in global mineral reserves, including 90% of chromium and platinum deposits, 40% of gold reserves, and significant holdings of cobalt, vanadium, manganese, and uranium.
The minister’s response follows Trump’s weekend announcement on Truth Social threatening to suspend US aid to South Africa over its recently passed land expropriation law.
Mantashe called for continental solidarity in response to external threats, arguing that Africa should use its resource advantages to advance its own development rather than depend on foreign aid.