Given that ousted minister Ramatlhodi is considered the main person that helped end a five-month strike in the country’s platinum sector last year, Zuma's decision is being questioned.
So far, copper prices have failed to react significantly to news of supply disruptions, remaining more responsive to news from China, the world’s largest consumer.
The Vancouver-based miner has sold 30% of the company to La Mancha Holding in a deal that will grant it a majority stake in the massive Ity gold mine, in Côte d’Ivoire.