The slowdown in China’s economy could jeopardise around 19 000 jobs in the South African mining, according to mineral resources Minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi. However, the government is initiating special measures to cope with the consequences, he told news agency South China Morning Post.
The South African government was focusing on ways to mitigate the impact from China, said Ramatlhodi, adding that China must be convinced to give SA preferential treatment in the mining trade.
“What we are hoping is that China will maintain the same level of purchase price and volumes so that we can save the jobs in our industry,” he said.
Despite the slowdown, China’s overall investment in Africa has maintained a steady growth, noted Ramatholdi, highlighting that bilateral trade last year amounted to $61.6 billion.
