Editor’s take: Under pressure

Following US President, Donald Trump’s determination to impose trade tariffs on most trading partners, the sentiment for South Africa looks rather grim. The US is a significant trading partner for SA with thousands of exports qualifying for duty-free access under AGOA. US total goods trade with South Africa was $20.5 billion in 2024 with US goods exports to SA in 2024 being $5.8 billion, down 18.3 percent ($1.3 billion) from 2023. US goods imports from SA in 2024 were $14.7 billion, up 4.9 percent ($679.4 million) from 2023. So, how will Trump’s aggressive stance play out given that retaliations from the US’s trading partners are coming in fast and furiously?  Will he retract or tone down the belligerence, or add fuel to the fire? Importantly, how is South Africa going to respond to the array of challenges from the US – are we going to beg for better or play the tit for tat game? No matter the path taken, South Africans are sure to feel the pinch.

Editor’s take: Standing the test of time

March 2025 holds a special place in Modern Mining’s history – twenty years’ ago, the publication produced its very first edition. Marking a milestone of two decades of progress and stability, Modern Mining has withstood the test of time, having evolved from a purely print publication, to now having an extensive online and social media offering. Like the industry, the publication has had its ups and downs, facing off on the 2008-financial crisis and then again, the Covid pandemic in 2019. Leading underground mining contractor, Murray & Roberts Cementation, which was profiled in our very first edition, has been supporting the publication for the past two decades and once again appears in our Modern Mining Celebration feature.

Editor’s take: Heading towards the world’s number one city – Cape Town.

As the mining industry and its related sectors gear up to attend the African Mining Indaba, the good news is that Time Out has voted Cape Town as the best city in the world for 2025, beating Bangkok, Thailand (in second place), New York, USA (third), Melbourne, Australia (fourth) and London, England (fifth). The British-based publication’s survey took into account aspects including food, nightlife and culture, affordability, happiness and overall city vibe. A contingent of more than 7000 visitors, both local and international, are expected to attend the Mining Indaba taking place from 3-6 February at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. It is a premier mining event dedicated to fostering successful capitalisation and development of mining interests in Africa.

Editor’s take: 2025 – another mettle testing year?

According to the Chinese calendar, 2025 is the Year of the Snake. Representing wisdom, elegance, and mystery, the snake is often seen as a symbol of transformation and adaptability. And with so many challenges presented to us on both the global and local fronts, the need for flexibility seems to be a given going into 2025.

Interestingly financial services provider, Deutsche Bank, in its Outlook 2025: Deeply invested growth, echoes this sentiment, stating that we live in a world characterised by rapid and accelerating change: economic, social, political and technological. “Change, in all its forms, is often unsettling but cannot be ignored. It will create challenges in 2025 and beyond, but also investment opportunities.” 

Editor’s take: Welcome December, welcome holidays.

2024 has been an eventful year. It has delivered many ‘shocks’, from the ANC losing its parliamentary majority to the formation of the GNU, Donald Trump taking office for a second term and snow in the Saudi Arabia desert – the first snowfall ever recorded in the Al-Jawf region in the northern Al-Nafūd desert. For Mzanzi, 2024 has been a challenging year with non-stop retrenchments, countless business closures and ends-not-meeting for most households. As we wrap up this year, South Africa’s mining industry, which contributes 7.53% to GDP, saw the majority of its commodities, barring gold, under pressure, leading to a drop in both revenue and profits.