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Passing of Professor Peter Gaylard

Professor Peter Gaylard16 July 1942 – 4 February 2024

We learned recently of the passing of Prof Peter Gordon Gaylard, a Retired Fellow of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. He joined the SAIMM as a Student member on 17 November 1965 and received his 50-Year Membership Lapel Badge at the SAIMM Annual General Meeting on 11 August 2016.

2024 SAIMM Conferencing Survey

2024 SAIMM Conferencing SurveyThe SAIMM remains committed to providing world class and relevant conferencing to its members and the larger Mining fraternity. To ensure that we meet this standard, we require information from you. Particularly conference topics which interest you most. Click here to participate in this survey which will run until 29 February 2024. We require less than 5 minutes of your time.

SAIMM Mining Exhibition at the Sci-bono Discovery Centre

In July 2014 the SAIMM mining exhibition was opened at the Sci-bono Discovery Centre in Newtown, Johannesburg. The exhibition presents the opportunity to showcase the industry, provide information and encourage visitors to Sci-bono and learners to consider careers in the minerals industry.

It has been over 9 years since the official opening of the exhibition. The SAIMM is in conversation with the Sci-bono team regarding upgrading of the facility. Should you or your organisation be interested in supporting this project, through expertise or financial support, please contact communications@saimm.co.za or sam@saimm.co.za to pledge your support.

We look forward to your support in revitalizing the exhibition.

The SAIMM Diversity and Inclusion Dialogue

Heritage 2023As we celebrate our diverse heritage, let us be deliberate about inclusion. The SAIMM Diversity and Inclusion Dialogue will kick off on Tuesday 26 September 2023. This will take place virtually to allow participation from all near and far. Book your seat today and add your voice to this important conversation. Click Here to register your attendance.

In the words of Verna Myers, ‘Diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance.’ Let us dance!

Happy Heritage Day from our Council, Office Bearers, and Secretariat.

We are live! SAIMM The Crucible

podcast 2 29082023

The Crucible is a podcast by the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. The objective is to ensure that our stakeholders have relevant information to enable decision making in an unpredictable future. Through the podcast we offer listeners a front row seat to conversations with specialists, experts and thought leaders in the minerals and metals sector. We discuss pertinent topics and burning issues to ensure that all stakeholders have real, in-time information.  

If you would like to participate by suggesting a topic, being interviewed, or recommending an industry expert, contact Sam Moolla on sam@saimm.co.za

Nolitha Fakude Chairman of Anglo American Honoured with the Brigadier Stokes award by SAIMM

Nolitha Fakude 22082023The Brigadier Stokes memorial award is the highest achievement in the South African mining and metallurgical industry. The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy has the privilege to honour Nolitha Fakude with this award in recognition of her service and contribution to the industry.

Nolitha Fakude, the Chairman of Anglo American was presented the medal at the SAIMM Annual General Meeting on 18 August 2023. The medal is a symbol of her contribution to the mining fraternity. Nolitha is the current President of the Minerals Council of South Africa (MINCOSA), Non-Executive Director of the JSE Limited and Vice President of the International Woman’s Forum South Africa. She is also the Patron of Guild Cottage home for girls.

Previously, Nolitha served on the Board of Anglo-American plc from 2017 to 2019. She has worked in senior executive roles in various industries including Retail, Financial Services, Mining, and Oil and Gas. She served as an Executive Director and Executive Vice President of Strategy and Sustainability at Sasol Limited, and Chairman of Sasol Mining from 2010 until 2016. Nolitha was the President of the Black Management Forum (BMF) from 2003 to 2006 and its Managing Director between 2000 and 2003. She also served as a non-executive director of Harmony Gold 24 years ago. She now serves as a member of the Council of Elders and is a respected authority on transformation and empowerment in South Africa.

On accepting the 2023 Brigadier Stoke Memorial award, Nolitha quoted Maya Angelou saying ‘I come as one but I stand as ten thousand.’ As she accepted the award on behalf of all the unknowns in the mining and metallurgy industry.

Her accolades include: The 2004 Most Influential Businesswoman by Financial Mail, Impala Platinum Young Entrepreneur Award and the National Honor by the Golden Key Society of the University of Johannesburg. Nolitha has led from the front and has not been shy to tackle the tough issues that business has to deal with including policy reform to enable inclusive economic growth. Nolitha is an author of a book titled, “Boardroom Dancing – Transformation stories from a Corporate Activist”, published in 2019.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree in Psychology from the University of Fort Hare and completed the Senior Executive Programme at Harvard Business School in the United States.

SAIMM announces William Joughin as president

William Joughin 2023The Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) has sworn in William Joughin as the new president for 2023/2024. The SAIMM announced the new president for the Institute at the Annual General Meeting which was held at the Johannesburg Country Club in Woodmead on Thursday 17 August 2023

William started working for Anglo American Gold Division as a mining graduate. William then transferred to the rock engineering department, where he discovered his real passion. He was seconded to integrated Seismic Systems International (now the Institute of Mine Seismology) to learn about mine seismic networks and rockburst management. He worked as a mine seismologist and a rock engineer for the next five years, on President Steyn no. 4 shaft (now Bambanani), then on Vaal Reefs no. 8 shaft (now Great Noligwa), Libanon, and Kloof gold mines. During this time, he completed his MSc Eng and -a GDE in Rock Engineering, as well as the Chamber of Mines Rock Mechanics Certificate, Advanced Rock Engineering Certificate, and Mine Manager’s Certificate of Competency.

William is fortunate to have had the opportunity to visit and provide consulting services for mines in 18 countries on six continents. He currently serves on rockburst management advisory boards for El Teniente, Chile and Kiruna, Sweden.

William has published over 50 articles on rock engineering and is the recipient of an SAIMM gold medal and the Alec Wilson Award (SANCOT) for outstanding papers. He has co-written two chapters on risk-based design in the book Ground Support in Underground Mines (Potvin and Hadjigeorgiou, 2020) produced by the Australian Centre for Geomechanics.

William is a Past President of the South African National Institute of Rock Engineering (SANIRE), and a Past Vice President for Africa of the International Society for Rock Mechanics (ISRM).

He joined the SAIMM as a student and has been a Council member since 2008. William has chaired three international rock engineering conferences and two schools as joint SAIMM and SANIRE events. He is a member of the Publications Committee and served as Treasurer from 2020.

William’s presidential address focused on ‘Managing geotechnical uncertainty and risk in mining.”

‘SAIMM Past President’, Mzila Mthenjane appointed as the Minerals Council South Africa’s new CEO’.

Mzila Mthenjane 09062023Mzila Mthenjane who served as the President of the SAIMM in 2019/2020 has been appointed by the Minerals Council South Africa as the new CEO. He will be replacing Roger Baxter who announced his last month in the role of CEO at Minerals Council will be June 2023 after nine years. Mzila has over 30 years of experience in the South African Mining and Financial services industries. He started his career as a Junior Engineer, and has since filled roles such as Senior Manager of Corporate Development, Vice-President for Global Corporate Finance, and Investment Manager at different corporations. He was employed by Exxaro Resources as the Executive Head for Stakeholder Affairs prior to being CEO of the Minerals Council. “We are pleased to appoint someone of Mzila’s experience and ability. He is coming in when the focus of all stakeholders is now more on economic, environment, social, and governance matters, with mining expected to play a significant role in this regard.” said Nolitha Fakude, Minerals Council South Africa President.

The name Mzila, translated to English means ‘path’. The SAIMM Council, Office Bearers, members, and the secretariat would like to take this opportunity to wish Mr Mthenjane well on his new path. 

SAIMM Banquet 2023 - Thank you

The SAIMM are thankful to have had the opportunity to network and collaborate again, with all our members, stakeholders, and partners.  We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the companies below, for their support as a sponsor at our banquet on Saturday, 6 May 2023.  They made it possible for our industry to come together again!

Banquet Sponsor Logos 09052023 2

 

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Other mining news

Mining Weekly | Africa

19 March 2024

The latest mining world news and project information from Africa. providing updates on the progress of future, new and existing projects. Developments in mining legislation, policies, investments and infrastructure will be highlighted
  • Sandfire announces $200m credit line
    Australia-headquartered Sandfire Resources on Tuesday announced a $200-million corporate revolver facility (CRF), with some of the proceeds going towards paying off a facility linked to its Matsa acquisition in Spain. The company established the CRF under a syndicated facility agreement with Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, Citibank, Natixis and Societe Generale.
  • GoviEx appoints FEED contractor, starts initial ground works at Niger project
    TSX-V-listed GoviEx Uranium has appointed SGS Bateman to undertake the front-end engineering design (FEED) for the Madaouela mine, in Niger. The project is also moving forward with initial ground works, including the construction of an access road, which will be followed by comprehensive site clearance and terracing, and then initial civil engineering construction.
  • Mining operations at Hummingbird’s Kouroussa mine temporarily suspended
    The principal contract miner at Aim-listed Hummingbird’s Kouroussa gold mine, in Guinea has temporarily suspended mining operations as of March 17 as a result of various contractual disputes. Hummingbird says the contract miner’s action is in breach of the mining contract.