Mr Speaker, the ANC wishes to congratulate BHP Billiton on the launch of a smelter last week to produce the largest beneficiation of manganese ore mined in South Africa. This underpins the government's strategy on new beneficiation, which translates our comparative minerals endowments into a national competitive advantage.
The smelter, launched by Minister Susan Shabangu last week, is the largest operating furnace in the world and is located at Samancor Meyerton in Gauteng.
This 30% beneficiation adds value to minerals, which is a vital input to industrialisation led by the Department of Trade and Industry through the Industrialisation Policy Action Plan.
Indeed, South Africa is committed to accelerating manufacturing for domestic, regional and global export. The impact on downstream associated industries can create 2 000 jobs in the Northern Cape where the manganese is mined, and, more importantly, potentially sustain more than 10 000 jobs downstream. This was not simply said by the ANC or a Minister of the government, but by Mr Ravi Moodley, the South African president of BHP Billiton Manganese.
This is yet another example of the public sector, the private sector and the people working together to grow our economy. I thank you, Mr Speaker. [Applause.]