Business Day comments that the government’s hard line will come as a big relief to mining houses, which have decried the growing threat to the sustainability of the local industry by illegal mining. For the first time, illegal mining will become an offence – previously, those arrested faced trespassing charges. It’s an activity thought to cost the formal mining industry as much as R7 billion a year. PRESIDENCY CHIDES ESKOM’S NYATHIThe Presidency has hit back at Eskom chairman Nteto Nyathi for publicly questioning the plan to restructure the power utility. MTN TAKES R4bn HIT ON IRANThe US-Iran war has hit MTN – in a trading update, it’s warning the market that it’s trying to sell its 49% stake in Irancell, but US sanctions are hindering the plan.