News

SAIMM Mining Exhibition at the Sci-bono Discovery Centre

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Created: Sunday, 15 October 2023 15:33

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

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Created: Friday, 22 September 2023 07:25

As 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

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Created: Tuesday, 29 August 2023 09:29

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

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Created: Tuesday, 22 August 2023 13:08

The 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

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Created: Tuesday, 22 August 2023 08:02

The 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’.

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Created: Friday, 09 June 2023 15:34

Mzila 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

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Created: Tuesday, 09 May 2023 14:42

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!

SAIMM Banquet 2023

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Created: Tuesday, 14 March 2023 09:05

The SAIMM Banquet will be held on Saturday, 6 May 2023 at Emperors Palace. The last banquet took place on 14 March 2022, and we are looking forward to hosting companies and members at a new venue, with an exciting line-up for the evening. 

The Institute has hosted an annual banquet since the early 1980s, and we are proud that it has always been well supported and attended by mining companies and our members. The banquet creates an opportunity for an evening of networking with colleagues in an elegant and relaxed environment.

The cost of sponsoring a table which seats 10 people is R12 000 (plus VAT). This will entitle guests to a sumptuous dinner, wine on the table, and entertainment. It will also entitle companies to include a printed flyer in the goodie bag. If you are interested in booking a table or additional sponsorship, please contact Sam Moolla at sam@saimm.co.za or 010 538 0232.

SELLING THE FAMILY SILVER

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Created: Monday, 13 March 2023 08:05

Does South Africa really take beneficiation seriously? Here is a story about one company, just as an example of where, in my opinion, things might have gone wrong.
In 1998 Samancor was the world’s largest ferro-alloy producer, producing alloys of chrome and manganese. It was South African owned and controlled, with its origins in the creation of South African Manganese in 1926.

However, in December 1998 its major shareholder, London-listed Billiton (formerly Gencor), took over the company and de-listed it from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). It was established as the vehicle to promote Billiton’s global chrome and manganese businesses.

Billiton, which subsequently merged with Australian mining company BHP to become BHP Billiton, did not retain its interest in chrome and in June 2005 it sold its majority interest in Samancor Chrome to the Kermas Group, a company domiciled in the UK with substantial interests in Kazakhstan. Kermas remained secretive, never issuing company reports nor providing access to journalists and analysts.

Over the years ferrochrome producers in South Africa struggled to maintain production levels due to the rising cost and erratic supplies of power from Eskom. However, a multitude of small chrome ore producers obligingly supplied China with cheap ore to produce ferrochrome. In mid-2021 there were about 20 chrome recovery plants which produce fine chromite from UG2 platinum tailings, and also about 20 formal and informal washing plants for the production of chrome concentrates from primary sources. Eventually, in 2012, China overtook South Africa as the world’s largest ferrochrome producer.

Review on the Book: State Governance of Mining, Development and Sustainability by Tracy-Lynn Field

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Created: Sunday, 12 March 2023 13:31

(Professor, School of Law, University of the Witwatersrand),
2019, 394 pp

Professor Field’s lengthy and detailed book considers in depth the dilemma of jurisdictions in reconciling the duty of promoting mining and the obligation of regulating the industry.
The book is extensively researched, clearly reasoned, and thought-provoking. However it does not cover small-scale or artisanal mining and does not consider non-fuel extraction. Due to the difficulty of accurately translating technical and legal language, consideration is mainly given to English-speaking jurisdictions.