The Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) says there are no technical issues with the new South African Mineral Resources Administration System (SAMRAD).
This is despite media reports conveying user complaints about the online prospecting rights application system that was implemented last month.
“There are no problems with the system. The problem is people don't know that the number of people logging onto the system is regulated. So when they can't get in they think there are technical issues,” says department media liaison Zingaphi Jakuja.
When announcing the launch of the system, the department said it was fully functional. It added that the system regulates the number of users to avoid clogging of the system.
Serious request
At end of business, on 18 May, the system had 689 people logged on, 2 012 visits, 15 383 page views and more than 700 registered users.
“We request members of the public who have no genuine intention to lodge applications to refrain from registering onto the system as they are inhibiting serious applicants from accessing the system,” says the department.
It has set up a help desk to assist applicants should they have any technical difficulties. Prospective applicants are requested to call 012 444-3119 for assistance.
“We request patience as there is an unprecedented influx of applications. The volumes are higher than the number of applications that would normally be received at our regional offices on a daily basis,” adds the department.
Jakuja says those applicants that did have any queries or issues were assisted through the help desk.
Before final implementation, mineral resources minister Susan Shabangu gave the department an extra two weeks to test SAMRAD and ensure all glitches were removed before the moratorium was lifted.
Clearing corruption
The department had placed a moratorium on new mining applications in September, to allow the new system to be put in place and enable the department to conduct a full audit of all mining and prospecting licences granted since 2004.
At the time the moratorium was imposed, there was a backlog of 26 000 applications, according to the Government Communication and Information System.
In terms of the new system, the public will submit applications electronically through the department's Web site. These applications will be automatically routed to the relevant region.
The DMR introduced the online system to address corruption that plagued the application process.
SAMRAD, which cost R3.4 million, was a response to administrative and legislative problems, which previously resulted in some officials engaging in corruption.
The department has been struggling with mining rights applications where - due to system failure and/or corruption - rights for one piece of land were being granted to two different parties.
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