Mining Mirror April 2019 | Page 29

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]