“owner”

in relation to a mine or works, includes the lessee of the mine or works and any person who has the right, or has, by virtue of any law or any agreement with the owner of the mine or works, acquired the right, to exploit a mine for his or her own benefit or to operate a works for his or her own benefit; and if the question arises whether a person is, for the purposes of this Act, the owner of a mine or a works, the Minister shall make a decision on such question;

[Definition substituted by section 50 of the Abolition of Restrictions on the Jurisdiction of Courts Act, No. 88 of 1996]