Mining in focus
Adding to the mix, and to complicate
matters further, is new technology and the
Fourth Industrial Revolution, which could
lead to job losses; something Ramaphosa,
and Mantashe, emphasised. But according
to Mark Cutifani, CEO of Anglo
American, it could also lead to higher-
paid jobs and new skills. “As mining in
South Africa becomes more difficult,
technology will become more important.
The most important stakeholder in mining
is the community and, in the future,
workers will need new skills, including
digital skills. Mining is a catalyst for five
new jobs off-site and mining creates new
opportunities for suppliers and service
providers in the communities in which
they operate. Mining companies need to
work with government and assist them in
what they want to achieve,” said Cutifani.
The Ramaphosa–Mantashe show
was an undeniable hit at Investing in
African Mining Indaba 2019, and this
time it was for the right reasons. Despite
the many questions and challenges,
at least they understand the mining
industry and, what’s more, they have the
industry’s survival and growth at heart.
Ramaphosa eloquently told delegates
after lunch on the second day of Indaba
that the mining industry in South Africa
is a sunrise industry, and not a sunset
industry. If nothing else, those are, at least,
encouraging words.
www.miningmirror.co.za
Mark Cutifani, CEO of Anglo American, on stage in Cape Town.
APRIL 2019 MINING MIRROR [27]