South Africa Scraps Black Ownership Rule in Minerals Exploration, Opening Door to US Firms

Some analysts see Pretoria’s unexpected move with regard to local black ownership in the minerals exploration sector as a win for the United States.

Platinum mineworkers report for work at Lonmin, Anglo American Platinum mine in Marikana, South Africa, on June 25, 2014, following the resolution of the five-month strike in the sector. Denis Farrell/AP Photo

JOHANNESBURG—Clauses in a draft bill that would have forced foreign minerals exploration companies to be partly owned by black locals have been scrapped by the South African government.

Some analysts see Pretoria’s move, which happened on June 10, as a win for the United States.