CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS

SAIMM is proud to partner with Implats, Sibanye Stillwater, Sound Mining, SRK Consulting, Ukwazi and Valterra Platinum with the goal of establishing and entrenching not only strategic relationships, but useful and uplifting networks of people and professionals.

The opportunity to serve as President of the prestigious Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) was made possible because of an Anglo American scholarship 39 years ago—a pivotal moment that set me on a career path spanning various roles and startup ventures in the mining industry.

Over the past decade, I have been privileged to broaden my experience by consulting across diverse industries globally. This exposure revealed something profound: what I had previously considered mining-specific challenges are, in fact, universal across many sectors.

In the March/April issue of SA Mining Magazine, SAIMM President, Dr. Elias Matinde (PhD) shares his vision for the future of South Africa’s mining industry. He emphasises how innovation, skills development, and collaboration will be key to shaping the industry’s future.

OPINION EDITORIAL

Balancing Energy Demands and Sustainability: South Africa’s Hydrogen Revolution

By Dr Darija Susac,
2^nd Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Conference Committee Member and Acting Director of HySA Catalysis Centre of Competence

Economic growth and socioeconomic development in any country is undeniably linked to its ability to produce energy, maintain energy independence, and achieve energy sustainability. To date, the world remains highly dependent on affordable fossil fuel resources, to meet ever increasing energy demand. However, the burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the atmosphere which adds to naturally occurring processes.

OPINION EDITORIAL

The AfriRock 2025 Conference comes at a pivotal time for the African mining and geotechnical engineering sectors, presenting a vital platform to confront key industry challenges while showcasing innovation, sustainability and skills development. With a landscape defined by rapid technological change and growing social and environmental expectations, the industry must take stock of where it is and where it’s going.

GMG-SAIMM IN-PERSON FORUM
OPINION EDITORIAL

By Dr Gargi Mishra, Organizing Committee Member GMG-SAIMM Johannesburg Forum, Mining Innovation Thought leader

The global mining industry is navigating a landscape shaped by economic uncertainty, supply chain disruptions, and evolving regulations. Rising operational costs, geopolitical tensions, and shifting policies are influencing investment decisions. Supply chain bottlenecks and international conflicts are further increasing delays and expenses, while regulatory shifts—including trade policies and tariffs—add layers of complexity.

The leadership of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, an independent professional institute of international standing for over 130 years, notes with sadness the gravity of the human tragedy that occurred at Stilfontein in the North West Province of South Africa over the last few weeks. The death of at least seventy-eight miners brings to light the need for collaborative efforts to address social, criminal, and legal challenges that arise as a result of progressive mine closures and the loss of mining jobs and the concomitant socio-economic distress that this causes in an already stressed South African economic climate. While there are many dimensions to the illegal mining conundrum, this tragic incident has been precipitated by progressive minerals industry contraction, high levels of unemployment and poverty, and exacerbated by organised crime, it must nevertheless be seen and responded to primarily as a humanitarian crisis of significant proportion.

In this episode of The Crucible, host Kabelo Rathobei is joined by Alex Khumalo, Head of Social Performance at Minerals Council South Africa, for a deep dive into the often-misunderstood concept of the social license to operate (SLO) in the mining sector. Together, they explore why legal compliance alone is no longer enough and how mining companies must shift their focus from box-ticking exercises to building genuine, long-term partnerships with host communities. Alex discusses the importance of going beyond compliance, the role of government and policy and why collaboration and economic diversification are key to sustainable development. Whether you're in mining, policy or community engagement, this conversation offers valuable insight into the evolving expectations of the mining industry in South Africa.

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