Leading corporate and commercial law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH) together with the Junior Mining Council (JMC) was deeply honoured to host Thungela at a bespoke brunch event at the Hyatt Regency in Cape Town during the Mining Indaba 2025. 

Thungela CEO July Ndlovu was the keynote speaker captivating attendees with an inspiring address highlighting his journey in the mining industry "as one that has been of discovery, challenges, and transformation". His extensive career bought to him the realisation that "mining is more than operations and outputs; it’s about people, communities, and the future we are all working to build together. That perspective has shaped how I think about our responsibility, especially now as our industry faces significant pressures and tremendous opportunities." 

Vivien Chaplin, the Head of CDH's Mining & Minerals sector says "July's exceptional leadership and extensive mining experience is well recognised as contributing not only to the growth and success of Thungela but to the mining sector across Africa. We are so privileged to have received personal insights from a person whose career and contribution to the global mining sector are truly inspiring."

As a visionary, July's eyes are always on the future and aligned to the theme of this year’s Mining Indaba, “Futureproofing African mining, today,” he says, "It challenges all of us to think not only about what we do now but about how we prepare for what’s next. At Thungela, we’ve embraced this forward-thinking mindset through a guiding principle that energy security is our goal. It’s a reflection of our belief that our industry must evolve, adapting to meet the growing demand for sustainable and reliable energy solutions while balancing economic growth and environmental stewardship."

In addition, July believes that the junior mining sector "plays a critical role in keeping South Africa’s mining industry alive and growing." He continues, "Junior miners bring agility, innovation, and collaboration, which are key to shaping the future of modern mining."

As a law firm firmly rooted in mining sector, Vivien says CDH remains dedicated to "providing strategic insights and solutions that empower stakeholders to thrive in this dynamic and ever-shifting landscape."  In this regard, she also notes that today's event which was hosted by CDH and the JMC is the start of an exciting partnership between the JMC and CDH, whereby CDH will contribute regular legal and regulatory training and resources to members of JMC to support the accelerated development of this sector of the mining industry, which is vital to the growth of the economy.     

In closing July ended on a high note saying that "Each of us in this room holds the potential to be a changemaker. To not only adapt to the future but to actively shape it." Viven wholeheartedly agrees, saying "our positive actions today will impact future generations of miners across the continent tomorrow".