Mines minister has withdrawn an appeal of a court ruling that held that mining companies did not have to maintain at least 26% black ownership in perpetuity.

The Minerals Council said 698 foreign mineworkers had returned on Tuesday.

MINING.COM's ranking of the world's 50 largest mining companies based on market value shows an industry clawing back most of the covid-19 related losses by the end of the second quarter.

The venture runs seven chrome mines and five ferrochrome plants in South Africa, and employs a total of 11,448.

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday announced a further easing of the lockdown from June 1.

Harmony Gold CEO Peter Steenkamp said it would take a month for its mines to fully ramp up.

Samples of the fish and nearby waters analyzed in a laboratory showed normal levels of hydrocarbon and unusually high amounts of metals traceable to waste from batteries.

Production at chrome mine in South Africa was suspended after an employee tested positive for covid-19.