The action at the Marikana platinum mine, which later spread to other operations, claimed at least 45 lives, an event Shabangu described as tragic.
Delivering the opening address on the first day of Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town, Shabangu said the Native Land Act had deprived the majority of South Africans of the right to own land and eventually drove those who had lost their land to join the mining industry as migrant labourers.
“It is the remnants of this historical legacy of the migrant labour system, poor housing and living conditions, high levels of illiteracy and low skills level that inevitably contributed to Marikana,” she said.
Shabangu said the government had appointed Judge Ian Farlam to head up a commission of enquiry into the matter, while at the same time the government would work on housing and living conditions of mine workers.
“In order to achieve a lasting solution to these challenges the point of departure should be acknowledgement of the need to address the underpinning structural and historical elements and not just the symptoms as they occur,” she said.
“This requires mining stakeholders to work together in partnerships in order to obviate any prospects of the events of last year repeating themselves.
“The country and the industry cannot afford the prospect of another Marikana.”
As part of the government’s “transformation agenda”, it had started a review of the mining act with submissions currently open.
Shabangu said the act would aim to remove ambiguities to keep the legislation current and strengthen administrative processes.
“The new process is expected to herald a significant improvement in service delivery, both in terms of certainty regarding security of tenure when mining or prospecting rights are issued,” she said.
“May I call on the mining industry to consider how they will contribute meaningfully.”
She stressed that nationalisation was not on the agenda and speculation on the matter was unhelpful.
“In this regard, I appeal to you not to try to resuscitate this debate in different forms and guises, which may invariably be marred by differently unhelpful interpretations,” she said.
Shanbangu said she acknowledged the issues facing the mining industry, with the platinum industry in particular facing the biggest challenges.
Anglo American Platinum has already announced a restructuring which will result in the loss of up to 14,000 jobs.
Shanbangu said the government was working with AngloPlats to find a “lasting solution”
