Mineral Technology Act, 1989 (Act No. 30 of 1989)4. Functions, powers and duties of Mintek |
| (1) | The functions of Mintek shall be to achieve its objects with the means at its disposal, and for the purposes of achieving those objects Mintek may— |
| (a) | undertake research, development and technology transfer in connection with— |
| (i) | the better utilization of the mineral resources of the Republic; |
| (ii) | the improvement of technical processes and methods to improve mineral production; and |
| (iii) | the promotion and expansion of existing, and the establishment of new, industries in the field of minerals and products derived therefrom; |
| (b) | utilize the technological expertise in its possession or make it generally available; |
| (c) | grant to any person bursaries and educational loans; |
| (d) | publish information concerning its objects and functions, and establish facilities for the collection and dissemination of information in connection with research; |
| (e) | establish and control facilities in those fields of research which the Board may from time to time approve; |
| (f) | promote co-operation between the Republic and other countries in matters relating to research. |
| (2) | In order to promote relevant research Mintek may— |
| (a) | make grants to universities, technikons, colleges and other educational and scientific institutions in aid of research by their staff or for the establishment of facilities for such research; |
| (b) | co-operate with departments of State, universities, technikons, colleges, other educational and scientific institutions and other persons; |
| (c) | co-operate with educational authorities and scientific or technical societies or industrial institutions representing employers and employees, respectively, for the promotion of |
| (i) | the instruction of researchers in schools, technikons, colleges and universities; |
| (ii) | the training of researchers and technical experts; and |
| (iii) | the training of craftsmen; |
| (d) | promote the training of research workers by means of the granting of bursaries or grants-in-aid for research and the making of monetary contributions for research programmes out of its funds; |
| (e) | co-operate with persons and associations undertaking research in other countries. |
| (3) | Mintek may, in order to achieve any of its objects— |
| (a) | enter into agreements with any person or, subject to the provisions of section 5, any government or administration, on the conditions upon which Mintek and that person, government or administration may agree; |
| (b) | with the approval of the Minister, acting with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance— |
| (i) | purchase, hire, possess or otherwise acquire immovable property and let, encumber or dispose of that property; |
| (ii) | borrow money from time to time on the terms and conditions approved by the Board by way of loans from any source and against the security which the Board may deem fit; |
| (iii) | establish any company, or in association with any person establish a company, for the purpose of developing or exploiting in any manner any invention or technological expertise, and for this purpose acquire an interest in or control over a company or statutory body referred to in section 1 of the Exchequer and Audit Act, 1975 (Act No. 66 of 1975); |
| (c) |
| (i) | purchase, hire, possess or otherwise acquire movable property, and let, pledge, encumber or dispose of that property; |
| (ii) | hire or let services; |
| (d) | as end-products of research, development and technology transfer undertaken by Mintek— |
| (i) | produce and sell reports, computer programmes and other intellectual property; |
| (ii) | manufacture and sell instruments, equipment and similar items; |
| (iii) | produce, process and sell minerals, metals, chemicals and related products; |
| (iv) | conduct market research and sell the results thereof; |
| (v) | provide, against payment, services not directly related to research, in order to create viable business opportunities in industry; |
| (e) | perform or exercise any function or power entrusted to or conferred upon Mintek in terms of any other law; and |
| (f) | in addition to the other things that Mintek is required or empowered to do in terms of the other provisions of this Act or in terms of any other law, do everything that is conducive to the achievement of its objects or is calculated, directly or indirectly, to enhance the value of or render profitable the property or rights of Mintek. |
| (4) | Mintek shall, subject to its other functions in terms of this Act or any other law— |
| (a) | undertake the investigations or research that the Minister may assign to it; and |
| (b) | advise the Minister on research in the field of mineral technology. |