The South African mines ministry has told platinum miner Lonmin that it failed to meet some of its social and labour obligations, the producer said on Tuesday, but added it did not think its operating licence was in jeopardy.
Mines minister Mosebenzi Zwane had pledged in writing to a court that he would not publicly say changes to an industry charter were "law" until a judicial challenge has been completed.
International watchdog group Global Witness says political elites and security forces have controlled and secretly exploited Zimbabwe's diamond sector for over a decade.
South Africa holds the world's biggest reserves of platinum, chrome and manganese, but investment in the sector has dropped in each of the past two years as a result of increasing legal uncertainty and labour disputes.