He became more radical after seeing the miserable conditions of the small mining village in the north of England where he had been invited to take charge of music at an annual work-camp.
South Africa's Mining Development Association, which represents smaller and black-owned mining companies, also wants a variety of social-development conditions to be attached to licences.
The devil is in its detail, or lack of it: the mining minister will have plenty of discretion in awarding licences, and conditions relating to social development have yet to be defined.
Caterpillar, the giant global manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, also considered to be a bellwether for global economic conditions, reported an unexpected 13% plunge in orders in the three-month period from December through February.
With gold and gold stocks due for at least a bounce from deeply oversold conditions, now may be a good time to establish a position in a mining stock with a decent dividend.