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
|
|
Company |
Mine Name |
Surface/ |
Total fatality |
|
1 |
De Beers |
Venetia Mine - Ntokozo Ngema |
Underground |
13,085,260 |
|
2 |
Valterra Platinum |
Tumela Mine - Neo Sefatse |
Underground |
11,193,942 |
|
3 |
Valterra Platinum |
Mototolo Mine - Andre Nagel |
Underground |
9,606,942 |
|
4 |
Valterra Platinum |
Mogalakwena Mine - |
Surface |
23,328,198 |
|
5 |
Kumba Iron Ore |
Sishen Mine - |
Surface |
17,139,114 |
|
6 |
Valterra Platinum |
Precious Metals Refinery - |
Surface |
14,114,059 |
1. BEST IMPROVED SAFETY PERFORMANCE (YEAR-ON-YEAR)
|
GOLD |
|||
|
Position |
Company |
Mine |
Manager |
|
1st |
Sibanye-Stillwater |
Beatrix Operations |
Moses Netshivhazwaulu |
|
2nd |
Harmony Gold |
Moab Khotsong Mine |
Willem Gouws |
|
3rd |
Harmony Gold |
Mponeng Mine |
Ronald Mulaudzi |
|
PLATINUM |
|||
|
Position |
Company |
Mine |
Manager |
|
1st |
Sibanye-Stillwater |
Khuseleka Shaft |
Raymond Sebitloane |
|
2nd |
Valterra Platinum |
Tumela Mine |
Neo Sefatsa |
|
3rd |
Booysendal Platinum |
Booysendal South Mine |
BP Ngubeni |
|
4th |
Sibanye-Stillwater |
Thembelani Shaft |
Mandla Zwane |
|
COAL |
|||
|
Position |
Company |
Mine |
Manager |
|
1st |
Exxaro Resources |
Belfast Coal |
Sizwe Moroku |
|
2nd |
Sasol |
Sasol Destoning Plant (TEP) |
Welile Kheswa |
|
3rd |
Seriti Power |
Middelburg Mine Services |
Charl du Buisson |
|
DIAMONDS |
|||
|
Position |
Company |
Mine |
Manager |
|
1st |
Petra Diamonds |
Cullinan Diamond Mine |
Tumelo Matoba |
|
BASE METALS |
|||
|
Position |
Company |
Mine |
Manager |
|
1st |
Eastern Chrome Mines / Samancor |
Tweefontein Mine |
S Mthethwa |
|
2nd |
Glencore Ferro Alloys |
Magareng Mine |
John Arnoldi |
|
3rd |
Glencore |
Kroondal Chrome Mine |
Letlhogonolo Masilo |
|
PROCESS |
|
1st Sibanye-Stillwater – Marikana Smelter & BMR Operation – Bennie du Toit |
|
2nd Sibanye-Stillwater – SRPM Underground Plants – S. Ratau |
|
3rd Sibanye-Stillwater – Marikana Underground Plants – Nicko Prinsloo |
|
OPENCAST |
|||
|
Position |
Company |
Mine |
Manager |
|
1st |
Tharisa Minerals |
Tharisa Mine |
Mark Roebert |
|
2nd |
Kumba Iron Ore |
Sishen Mine |
Tebogo Mushi |
|
3rd |
Mokala Manganese |
Mokala Manganese Mine |
Basie van Wyk |
|
CONTRACTORS |
|||
|
Position |
Company |
Manager |
|
|
1st |
Mokala Manganese |
Basie van Wyk |
|
|
2nd |
Fraser Alexander |
Makete Thema |
|
|
3rd |
Cementation Africa |
Japie du Plessis |
2. BEST SAFETY PERFORMANCE IN CLASS (TIFR)
|
GOLD |
|
Winner: Sibanye-Stillwater – Kloof 7#, Manyano Shaft |
|
Manager: Mandla Msiza |
|
PLATINUM |
|
1. Sibanye-Stillwater – Saffy & E3 Shafts – Coen Bothma |
|
2. Sibanye-Stillwater – Saffy Shaft – David van den Berg |
|
3. Sibanye-Stillwater – K3 Merensky – Henning Behr |
|
COAL |
|
1. Thungela Resources – Goedehoop Colliery – Lindiwe Shongwe |
|
2. Overlooked Group – Forzando North – Mighty Mtsweni |
|
3. Overlooked Group – Forzando South – Bonny Selema & Frans Shaba |
|
DIAMOND |
|
1. Petra Diamonds – Cullinan Mine – Tumelo Matoba |
|
BASE METALS |
|
1. Samancor – Tweefontein Mine – S. Mthethwa |
|
2. Glencore – Thorncliffe Mine – Phehello Theletsane |
|
3. Glencore Ferro Alloys – Magareng Mine – Johan Arnoldi |
|
PROCESS |
|
1. Sibanye-Stillwater – UG2 & Retrofit Plants – Werner Breytenbach |
|
2. Sibanye-Stillwater – SRPM Underground Plants – S. Ratau |
|
3. Sibanye-Stillwater – WLTR & PMC Operations – Sandile Cele |
|
OPENCAST |
|
1. Ntshovelo Colliery – Jan Vilakazi |
|
2. Mokala Manganese Mine – Basie van Wyk |
3. SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS (FATAL-FREE SHIFTS)
|
Large Shields – 6 Winners |
|
|
|
|
Company |
Mine |
Manager |
Operation Type |
|
De Beers |
Venetia Mine |
Ntokozo Ngema |
Underground |
|
Valterra Platinum |
Tumela Mine |
Neo Sefatsa |
Underground |
|
Valterra Platinum |
Mototolo Mine |
Andre Nagel |
Underground |
|
Valterra Platinum |
Mogalakwena Mine |
Kobus van den Berg |
Surface |
|
Kumba Iron Ore |
Sishen Mine |
Tebogo Mushi |
Surface |
|
Valterra Platinum |
Precious Metals Refinery |
Heyley Prinsloo |
Surface |
4. LEADING PRACTICE ADOPTION AWARDS
|
FOG: Sibanye-Stillwater Gold Mines |
|
Dust: Evander Gold Mines |
|
Transport & Machinery: Minersa Vergenoeg Mining Company |
|
Noise: Glencore Alloys – Thorncliffe |
5. MINE RESCUE SERVICES AWARD
|
Winner: Northam Platinum – Zondereinde Mine |
|
Team Captain: Wynand Aveling |
6. BEST IMPROVEMENT AWARD – 2025
|
Winner: Seriti Resources |
|
Fatality Reduction: 100% |
|
TRIFR Improvement: 40% |
MINESAFE HEALTH AWARDS 2025
|
GOLD |
|
Occupational Hygiene: Barberton Consort & Sheba Mine (Tie) |
|
COAL |
|
Occupational Medicine: Seriti Pegasus Colliery |
|
Occupational Hygiene: Glencore – Goedgevonden Colliery |
|
PLATINUM |
|
Occupational Medicine: Valterra Platinum – Mogalakwena |
|
Occupational Hygiene: Valterra Platinum – Mototolo Mine |
|
BASE METALS |
|
Occupational Medicine: Anglo American – Kumba Sishen Mine |
|
Occupational Hygiene: Assmang Black Rock Mine |
|
DIAMOND |
|
Occupational Medicine: Petra Diamonds – Cullinan Mine |
|
Occupational Hygiene: No Winner – Criteria Not Met |
|
CHROME |
|
Occupational Hygiene: Glencore – Thorncliffe Mine |
|
MINERAL PROCESSING |
|
Occupational Hygiene: Harmony – Nufcor Plant |