South Africa is in danger of being continually isolated by the international exploration community unless much-needed statutory changes aimed at encouraging the inflow of risk capital are introduced by the country's government. Managing director of law firm Bell, Dewar and Hall - Andrew Mitchell - told Indaba delegates there were still a number of identified "limiting factors" facing explorers as they entered the southern African nation, despite the introduction of 2002's Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act. Some of the problems included too much ministerial discretionary powers (being exercised under unclear and non- transparent guidelines), ambiguous royalty regimes, bureaucratic delays, inconsistent application of the law, demands for issues which are not legally required as well as the usual corruption and crime.
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