South Africa's minerals and energy minister has sought to add further momentum to the beneficiation movement in the country's domestic precious metals industry.

Speaking at a media briefing, Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka said she was keen to see the domestic producers make the most of the resources.

"We are asking them to make raw material available in South Africa instead of exporting it 100 per cent," she told Business Report.

However, she stressed that new quotas governing the level of mine output that has to be beneficiated locally would only be raised gradually.

"What we have opened now is an opportunity for them to think [about] and they are going to make the correct choices . . . we would not expect them to be suicidal," she added.

Many members of the domestic mining industry remain uncomfortable about the level of government intervention in the precious metals and mining industries, with the Chamber of Mines arguing that low taxes and a higher level of investment were the key to success.