South African president vows support for mining firms

South African President Jacob Zuma pledged to "build partnership" with major mining companies in the country, following a recession in the sector.

"The mining sector is extremely strategic to the South African economy. Evidently, the mining sector is facing an acute challenge, partly as a result of the dramatic drop in commodity prices," Xinhua quoted Zuma as saying on Thursday.

His statement comes as a large number of mining companies in the country are incurring losses and investment in the sector has dropped significantly.

More than 40 percent of the country's platinum mining industry and 31 percent of the gold mining industry is loss-making, Zuma said.

A number of mining companies in South Africa have announced retrenchment plans which are expected to cause an estimated 30,000 job losses in a two-year period.

The government has expressed concerns over the sacking, urging the companies to pull their punches.

On the same occasion, Minister of Mineral Resources Ngoako Ramahlodi said the current situation facing the mining sector is "being addressed robustly".