Initiatives under way to improve greenfield exploration in SA

Four of South Africa’s greatest mineral deposits, namely the diamond fields of the Northern Cape, the Witwatersrand Basin, the Witbank-Middelburg coal field and the Bushveld Igneous Complex, all of... 

SA’s little-known defunct manganese mine

The century-old Hout Bay manganese mine Manganese is a commodity that barely features in the popular historical narrative of South Africa’s mining industry. This is slightly odd, considering that... 

There’s gold in them thar mountains

Capetonians have a tendency to condescendingly regard mining as a dirty and dangerous, although vaguely necessary, activity that is pursued somewhere in the northern reaches of South Africa. Much... 

The Karoo’s mini gold bonanza

It is generally accepted in the historical mining narrative that South Africa’s phenomenal era of gold discovery, rushes and mining started around 1873, when extensive and payable quantities of... 

'Pilgrim's Protector' urges heritage compliance

For the last 16 months, a shroud of uncertainty veiled the business community of Pilgrims Rest, as it has waited with bated breath for the outcome of the Public Protector’s investigation into... 

Experts weigh in on the mining industry’s 2014 outlook

South Africa’s once mighty and economy-dominating mining industry is, at present, in dire straits. It is an industry – and this is particularly true of its gold and platinum sectors – that is... 

Mandela and his brief mining career

In the aftermath of the passing of former President Nelson Mandela last month, the world has mourned and reflected, quite rightly, on the enormous contribution he made in liberating South Africa... 

Experts weigh in on the mining industry’s 2014 outlook

South Africa’s once mighty and economy-dominating mining industry is, at present, in dire straits. It is an industry – and this is particularly true of its gold and platinum sectors – that is... 

Modderfontein museum preserving dynamite history

The use of explosive material, particularly dynamite, has played an integral, although somewhat understated, role in facilitating the development and growth of South Africa’s mighty mining industry... 

Museum preserving Millwood gold rush history

The Garden Route, stretching from Mossel Bay to the Storms river along the south-eastern coastline, is undoubtedly one of South Africa’s premier and most popular tourist attractions. It is in that... 

The 'greatest copper port' in Queen Victoria’s empire

Britain, particularly England and Wales, is littered with a plethora of monuments and museums that seek to pay homage to the kingdom’s diverse mining and industrial heritage. The region that is... 

The 1987 mine strike

The Soweto Uprising of June 16, 1976, in which, according to official estimates, 176 people were killed, had a profound impact on the trajectory of South Africa’s political history.  

Lest we forget

Last month, South Africans marked the first anniversary of the Marikana Massacre, in which 34 people were shot dead and 78 more injured during a wildcat strike at Lonmin’s Marikana mine.  

When white mineworkers downed tools

In its relatively short history as a unified country, South Africa has been exposed to very few revolutionary incidents led by white citizens. The most serious such incident was undoubtedly the... 

The lead-up to the 1922 Rand Revolt

During the first three months of 1922, at a time when South Africa was gripped by a severe economic depression, 22 000 white employees working in the Witwatersrand’s coal and gold mines,... 

When black mineworkers downed tools

the immediate wake of the 1913 white miners strike, when roughly 9 000 black workers went on strike for three days over low wages and poor living conditions in mine compounds. 

The miners strike that led to chaos on Joburg’s Market Square

The month of July marks the centennial of the culmination of the 1913 white mineworkers strike on the Rand. Although it was not the first large-scale industrial action to affect South Africa’s... 

The Rand’s first strike

South Africa’s trade union movement, which is today the largest on the African continent, has, for more than a century, played one of the most influential roles in determining labour market and... 

SA's first industrial action

For the last year, South Africa’s mining industry, particularly its flagship platinum-group metals sector, has been wracked by labour unrest and debilitating strike action. Such has been the scale... 

De Beers' Namibian unit upgrades mining vessel

The conversion of De Beers Marine Namibia's diamond mining vessel, Debmar Atlantic was completed recently allowing for a 30% increase in the vessels mining capacity. 

Construction of Botswana diamond technology park set to start this month

Work on the civil infrastructure for the new $50-million diamond technology park in Gabarone, Botswana, is set to begin this month month. 

US rust-protection system now in South Africa

Durban-based Epure Coatings has been specialising in rust-prevention in the automotive industry for the past seven years and has recently introduced a new rust-protection system into the South...