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SAIMM President Gary Lane Digs Deep in SA Mining Magazine Nov/Dec Issue

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Created: Thursday, 27 November 2025 15:42

SAIMM President Gary Lane Digs Deep in SA Mining Magazine Nov/Dec Issue

We are excited share the November/December 2025 issue of SA Mining Magazine (pages 20–21) which features SAIMM President, Gary Lane. The feature highlights his perspective on where the minerals industry stands today and the changes he believes are vital for its sustainable future.

Gary brings a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to thoughtful, people-centric leadership a reflection of SAIMM’s ongoing focus on transforming and strengthening the mining and metallurgical sector in Southern Africa.

We invite members and industry stakeholders to read the full article and share their thoughts on the ideas presented.

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MineSafe 2025 Conference and Industry Awards - Advancing Health and Safety Excellence in the Mining Sector

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Created: Thursday, 27 November 2025 15:16

MineSafe 2025 Conference and Industry Awards - Advancing Health and Safety Excellence in the Mining Sector

The 2025 MineSafe Conference, held from 19–21 November 2025 at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg, once again united the mining sector in a shared commitment to reducing harm, improving workplace conditions and embedding a culture of safety across South Africa’s mining operations. This flagship event is which was hosted by SAIMM, the Association of Mine Managers of South Africa (AMMSA), the Mine Metallurgical Managers Association of South Africa (MMMA), the South African Colliery Managers Association (SACMA), the Association of Mine Safety Professionals of South Africa (AMSPSA), and the South African Institute of Rock Engineering. The conference brings together key stakeholders committed to fostering a culture of safety and continuous improvement. As one of the industry’s most important collaborative platforms, the conference brought together representatives from mining companies, organised labour, government, suppliers and health and safety specialists to reflect on progress made, address persistent challenges and explore innovative approaches to improving occupational health and safety performance.

The conference concluded with the MineSafe Industry Awards Day on 21 November 2025, where companies and operations were recognised for exceptional achievements in safety leadership, year-on-year improvement and best-in-class performance across multiple commodity categories. This year’s awards showcased the depth of commitment within the sector to continuous improvement, transparent reporting and the adoption of leading practices aimed at ensuring every employee returns home unharmed.

During the three-day programme, delegates participated in technical discussions and presentations focused on:

• The elimination of fatalities and serious injuries
• Human-centred systems and supervisory capability
• Advances in digitalisation, automation and engineering controls
• Strengthening regulatory alignment and collaborative governance
• Progress under the Khumbul’ekhaya strategy
• Industry-wide learning from successful interventions and high-potential incidents

Speakers included senior leaders from mining companies, organised labour, Mine Health and Safety Council representatives and health and safety specialists who emphasised the need for shared responsibility and a sustained commitment to behavioural and operational excellence.

Industry Awards Day

The MineSafe Industry Awards celebrated excellence across:

• Best Improved Safety Performance Year on Year (YOY)
• Best Safety Performance in Class - Total Injury Frequency Rate (TIFR)
• Significant Achievements (Fatal-Free Shifts)
• Leading Practice Adoption
• Mine Rescue Services Award
• Best Improvement Award 2025
• MineSafe Health Awards 2025 (Occupational Medicine & Occupational Hygiene)

The awards recognised outstanding performers from gold, platinum, coal, diamonds, base metals, chrome, and mineral processing operations. Each award category highlighted companies making measurable advances in reducing risk, elevating health standards and driving transformation in mine safety outcomes.

View the event gallery here: https://www.saimm.co.za/news/multimedia/image-gallery/149-news/multimedia/image-gallery/1326-minesafe-2025

*Kindly note images published are the property of SAIMM and may not be used or disseminated without the consent of the SAIMM.

FULL LIST OF 2025 AWARD WINNERS AND RUNNERS-UP

Significant Achievements

6 LARGE Shields - 3 For Underground Operations, 3 For Surface Operations

1. BEST IMPROVED SAFETY PERFORMANCE (YEAR-ON-YEAR)

2. BEST SAFETY PERFORMANCE IN CLASS (TIFR)

3. SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS (FATAL-FREE SHIFTS)

4. LEADING PRACTICE ADOPTION AWARDS

5. MINE RESCUE SERVICES AWARD

6. BEST IMPROVEMENT AWARD – 2025

MINESAFE HEALTH AWARDS 2025

SAIMM Annual Banquet and Awards Evening

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Created: Friday, 21 November 2025 09:27

Podcast: the critical alignment of South Africa’s SANS 10286 standard with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM)

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Created: Thursday, 24 July 2025 06:34

In this episode of The Crucible, host Adelle Coetzee speaks with renowned tailings expert Andrew Copeland about the critical alignment of South Africa’s SANS 10286 standard with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM). This episode provides deep insights into the historical context, the urgent need for reform following past dam failures and the multi-stakeholder drafting process behind the revised standard.

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Podcast: Tackling Discrimination and Unconscious Bias in Hiring & Promotions in Southern Africa’s Mineral Sector

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Created: Thursday, 24 July 2025 06:34

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Podcast: Social licenses to operate (SLO) in the mining sector

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Created: Thursday, 19 June 2025 07:59

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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Presidential Address 2025: Beyond Effort-Driven Operations: Building People-Centric Operating Models for Mining's Future

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Created: Wednesday, 18 June 2025 09:46

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.

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

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Created: Friday, 02 May 2025 08:08

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.

Charting the Future of African Mining and Geotechnical Excellence

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Created: Friday, 02 May 2025 08:07

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.

The Mining Industry in 2025: Challenges, Innovation, and the Road Ahead

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Created: Friday, 02 May 2025 08:06

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.