Modern Mining: Insights

Connectivity is Infrastructure: Strategic Partnerships are Redefining Mining in Africa

By Mncedisi Mayekiso, Managing Executive of Direct Sales at Vodacom Business

The 2026 Mining Indaba in Cape Town carried a powerful message: "Stronger together: Progress through partnerships.” From enterprise roundtables to boardroom discussions, this theme resonated throughout the week. Nowhere was it more evident than during a panel discussion on “Unleashing smart connectivity for deep mining,” in which my colleague Louise Reddy, Vodacom Business’ Executive Head of Private Sector Sales, took part in.

McKinsey: Shorter commodity volatility cycles are reshaping trading strategies and value capture

New analysis from McKinsey & Company finds that shorter, more frequent commodity volatility cycles are reshaping trading strategies and value capture across global markets. Traditional models designed around long supercycles are becoming less effective, placing greater importance on flexibility, rapid capital deployment and access to physical flows.

The budget, road freight logistics and the consumer – what does it really mean?

By Gavin Kelly, CEO of the Road Freight Association

1. Taxpayers

The Road Freight Association (RFA) notes that the planned additional R20 billion to be taken from individual taxpayers has been dropped – thank goodness for that. This is only due to the commodities boom that has saved our necks (what does that mean, then, for 2027 should the commodities boon have long disappeared}?

Does water management need artificial intelligence?

The right combination of data and algorithms can produce astounding improvements in efficiency, speed, and oversight. While many water utilities already use digital monitoring and analytics to manage operations, artificial intelligence builds on these capabilities by identifying patterns in large datasets, enabling predictive insights, and supporting more informed decision-making. Utility managers are taking note, with around 15% of large water utilities across the world using artificial intelligence, set to reach 30% by 2026, according to the Xylem Water Technology Trends 2025 report. By 2035, three-quarters of water utilities will use some form of AI.

Why M&A deals in green minerals and renewables are the new measure of business success in Africa

By Yushanta Rungasammy, Director: Co-Head of Corporate & Commercial Practice at CMS South Africa

The energy transition has rewritten the rules of corporate success in Africa. In 2024, M&A volumes fell nearly 10%, but deal value jumped 85%, driven by critical minerals transactions as firms rapidly exit fossil fuels and reposition for the green economy.

South Africa’s Energy Outlook: Key Developments from 2025 and What to Expect in 2026

By Mzukisi Kota, Mlungisi Mahlangu, Jason van der Poel (Partners), Kiera Bracher, Sabeeha Loonat & Junaid Nyker (Associates) from Webber Wentzel

2025 highlighted key trends signalling a fundamental reset in South Africa’s electricity sector, with 2026 expected to be the year in which many of these reforms begin to take practical effect. With market rules nearing finalisation, infrastructure procurement advancing and new technologies gaining prominence, 2026 will test how well the sector can move from preparation to implementation.