<P> South Africa is one of the world's leading mining and mineral - processing countries . Though mining's contribution to the national GDP has fallen from 21% in 1970 to 6% in 2011, it still represents almost 60% of exports . The mining sector accounts for up to 9% of value added . </P> <P> In 2008, South Africa's estimated share of world platinum production amounted to 77%; kyanite and other materials, 55%; chromium, 45%; palladium, 39%; vermiculite, 39%; vanadium, 38%; zirconium, 30%; manganese, 21%; rutile, 20%; ilmenite, 19%; gold, 11%; fluorspar, 6%; aluminium, 2%; antimony, 2%; iron ore, 2%; nickel, 2%; and phosphate rock, 1% . South Africa also accounted for nearly 5% of the world's polished diamond production by value . The country's estimated share of world reserves of platinum group metals amounted to 89%; hafnium, 46%; zirconium, 27%; vanadium, 23%; manganese, 19%; rutile, 18%; fluorspar, 18%; gold, 13%; phosphate rock, 10%; ilmenite, 9%; and nickel, 5% . It is also the world's third largest coal exporter . </P> <P> The mining sector has a mix of privately owned and state - controlled mines, the latter including African Exploration Mining and Finance Corporation . </P> <P> The agricultural industry contributes around 10% of formal employment, relatively low compared to other parts of Africa, as well as providing work for casual labourers and contributing around 2.6% of GDP for the nation . However, due to the aridity of the land, only 13.5% can be used for crop production, and only 3% is considered high potential land . The sector continues to face problems, with increased foreign competition and crime being two of the major challenges for the industry . The government has been accused of either putting in too much effort, or not enough effort, to tackle the problem of farm attacks as opposed to other forms of violent crime . </P>

The export of capital from south africa is recorded as a