South African share prices on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange closed weaker on Thursday ahead of public holiday.

The all share index was down 1.28 percent to 50,831.81 points, while the blue-chip top 40 declined 1.27 percent to 4,4512.15 points.

South Africa's minister of resources Mosebenzi Zwane raised black ownership threshold for mining firms to 30 percent and that spooked resources.

Sibanye lost 3.52 percent at R16.15, Kumba Iron Ore was down 7.35 percent and Assore dropped 10.36 percent.
The South African rand traded at R12.85 to the U.S. dollar.

Naspers was down 2.2 percent to R2,497.87 at close of session. Anglo American was 4.89 percent lower at R163.31.

Rand hedge British American Tobacco added 1.46 percent to R891.13. Old Mutual was down 0.93 percent to R32.94. MTN was 1.07 percent lower at R110.41.