The Council, long known as the Chamber of Mines, held its first board meeting at its 17-story art-deco style Holland Street property in 1922.

From this much admired building, the Council was involved in and witnessed major changes in the country's mining sector - and its politics - for over a century.

"The Minerals Council, formerly the Chamber of Mines, is synonymous with Johannesburg," said the Council's chief executive Roger Baxter.

"We have promoted and protected our members interests, while being mindful of the country's imperatives, for 132 years, mostly from our graceful, history-filled building in central Johannesburg," he said.

But the time had come to move to modern premises that are better suited to serving its employees and members.

The Council, as the Chamber of Mines, at one time employed 7,500 people. This has fallen to 49 full time employees as many worked from home during the Covid-19 pandemic and the Council used third parties to do much of its previous work.

Mining and other companies started to move their offices out of Johannesburg's central business district from the 1990s as crime and poor infrastructure became a growing problem.

The Council is seeking a buyer for the Holland Street property.

"We will do all that we can to continue to preserve some of the historic and very beautiful parts of it as we hand it over to a new owner," said Baxter.

South Africa's leading metals and minerals exports are platinum group metals, gold, iron ore, coal and diamonds.

The Council advocates and lobbies the government on behalf of the 79 firms it represents, including Anglo American, Anglo Gold Ashanti, African Rainbow Minerals, De Beers, Exxaro. Gold Fields, Siyanda Resources and Siyanda Resources.

The mining sector contributed Rand 27.2 billion in taxes to the government in 2020.