By SSC Group founder and CEO Fred Arendse

As a proud sponsor of this year’s Joburg Indaba, the diversified mining and investment company SSC Group had the honour of engaging with some of the country’s most influential voices in mining, policy and investment. The energy in the room reflected a sector that is not only alive with opportunity but deeply aware of its responsibility to drive inclusive growth, transformation and industrial renewal.

Held under the theme “Partnering for Progress: Unlocking Mining’s Full Potential”, the 2025 Joburg Indaba reaffirmed a shared vision: South Africa’s mineral wealth must once again become the foundation for national reindustrialisation and socio-economic empowerment. The conversations centred on a critical set of questions — how do we balance growth and transformation, how can beneficiation reignite our manufacturing base, and how do we create an environment that restores investor confidence while enabling long-term sustainability?

Growth and Transformation

The long-standing debate on whether mining growth and transformation can co-exist has been replaced by a new understanding that they are inseparable. Growth without transformation is unsustainable, and transformation without growth is impossible.

South Africa’s mining sector has made significant strides over the past three decades in broadening participation and addressing historical imbalances. The inclusion of women across all levels of the industry, the rise in black ownership and management representation, and billions invested yearly in social and labour projects all demonstrate tangible progress.

At SSC Group, we have always viewed transformation not as a regulatory requirement, but as a business imperative. True competitiveness stems from diversity, empowerment and inclusion. A transformed sector attracts innovation, fosters resilience and sustains legitimacy — the real markers of long-term success.

Beneficiation

One of the most powerful discussions at the Joburg Indaba was the renewed focus on beneficiation as a driver of reindustrialisation. South Africa can no longer afford to export its raw minerals while importing finished products. The opportunity lies in creating value chains that extend from mine to market — producing refined metals, processed materials, and manufactured goods that fuel local industries and create jobs.

For beneficiation to thrive, however, we must address the foundational enablers: energy security, transport reliability and policy alignment. A coordinated national effort involving government, labour and the private sector is essential. Investment must flow not only into mines but into smelters, refineries and research facilities that build a competitive industrial base.

SSC Group is deeply invested in this vision. Through our focus on investment and mine rehabilitation, we are proving that sustainability and profitability can exist side by side, transforming once-exhausted assets into productive, community-owned opportunities.

Mining remains one of the most capital-intensive industries in the world. A single modern operation can take a decade and billions of rands to bring into production. For that reason, policy clarity and regulatory stability are non-negotiable. Investors must operate in an environment where risk is managed, timelines are predictable, and partnerships are encouraged.

An enabling environment is about more than legislation. It is about building trust — between the regulator and the regulated, between companies and communities, and between South Africa and the global investment community. Collaboration, transparency, and efficiency are the levers that will unlock the next generation of mining growth.

Mining in a Changing World

The world is in the midst of a profound geopolitical and energy transition. As countries race to secure critical minerals essential for batteries, renewable technologies, and green infrastructure, Africa’s role is being redefined. South Africa has a unique opportunity to lead this new frontier, provided we strengthen our governance, infrastructure and innovation capacity.

Our minerals are the currency of the future. But their real value will be determined by how we extract, process and share them responsibly. To compete globally, South Africa must combine policy consistency, technological innovation and inclusive participation. Only then will we remain a trusted partner in global supply chains.

The Joburg Indaba served as a powerful reminder that mining is not just about profit — it is about people. It is about the workers underground, the communities above ground, and the generations who will inherit the legacy we build today.

At SSC Group, our journey has been shaped by the belief that mining must uplift before it extracts. We see ourselves not only as investors but as nation-builders — committed to rehabilitation, transformation and empowerment that leaves a lasting impact. Our story is one of persistence and purpose: from humble beginnings to becoming a catalyst for sustainable development across the continent.

The future of South African mining depends on our ability to align vision with action — to ensure that policy encourages investment, that transformation drives competitiveness, and that profitability co-exists with social value.

Mining can be both profitable and purposeful. Growth and transformation can not only co-exist, they can propel one another. The challenge before us is not choosing between the two, but leading with both.

That is the promise we make as SSC Group — to keep partnering for progress, to keep unlocking potential, and to keep proving that South Africa’s mining story is far from over. It is only just beginning. With 20 years behind us, we continue to build a global, diversified, operating minerals and investment group.

https://www.sscgroup.co.za/