Betcha the Platreef permit gets signed soon...Here's why I think the mining right will be notarized soon:
1) The Minister himself asked to meet Friedland. Mid level civil servants normally handle administrative affairs. This means it's been given top priority within the government's agenda. Notice the article says: "...The department escalated the issue to Ramatlhodi, who then met with an Ivanhoe representative and requested the meeting with Friedland “to find a speedy resolution to this matter.” The Minister wants this solved fast. It will not be long delay.
2) The mine is too large to ignore from the minister's perspective. Too many jobs would be lost if things don't get going soon. If the permit is revoked or the consent process is to be re-done, then the project runs the risk of stalling completely. However, the Minister, who is a lawyer, needs to satisfy the fundamental legal right of the citizens to be heard. Once that right is executed, there is no turning back and the mine is scheduled to last many decades so entire communities will be affected. So extra due diligence on the review of the consent and consultation process is reasonable. Unless there was rampant corruption, they will approve and notarize the right document in due course.
3) Friedland would not have allowed any corruption in the consultation process, for that would be a threat to his investment. He's too smart and too experienced in dealing with community issues and he would not make such a basic mistake in the permitting process. The team he has around him have extensive mining experience as well, local to South Africa. Nothing is indicating that wrong-doing has occurred. Other articles indicate that 15 out of 20 communities approved so a super majority approval exists. Of the 5 that potentially oppose, protesters and representatives of the protesters have a history of questionable character issues and in some cases are outright criminals as per the Ivanhoe response a little while ago.
4) Don't underestimate Friedland. If he's meeting with the Minister, I wouldn't be surprised if he turns the meeting into a huge positive news story sending the stock soaring.
I bought more today and the price is fantastic. You'll kick yourself if you didn't get in when this so called "mine spat" is so easy to see through.