South African President, Jacob Zuma, commenced the African Mining Exploration and Finance Company (AMEFC), which is a subsidiary of the Central Energy Fund on Saturday. The company will also act as the center of the state owned mining company in Ogies, Mpumalanga.                                                           


However, there's one group that is claiming they weren't invited to the event. 


To see video of the launch, click here


The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) say they didn't get an invitation to the launch and it has some members wondering why.

"The NUM is seriously concerned that as an organisation that represents the majority of mineworkers in South Africa, thus a serious stakeholder, has neither been invited nor notified,” spokesman Lesiba Seshoka said in a statement.

Seshoka  also said that the NUM wonders if the company is going to be run by "goats or donkeys."


Zuma said government policy on minerals and mining did not make provision for the nationalization of mining assets, but that also did not prevent the state from participating in mining and competing with other companies.


He also remains completely optimistic of the project in spite of what the NUM has said, and says that “This means we should balance the opportunities for growth and development with ensuring that the social, environmental and economic impacts of mining, both positive and negative, are managed in an open and accountable way."