By Stephannie Williams, Media Consultant and Digital Content
South Africa’s mining industry is recognised as one of the largest and most profitable in the world. In fact, from its very first humble beginnings, the South African mining industry grew exponentially in a short space of time and, in 2023 alone, it drew in a revenue of R654 billion (around $34.6 billion US dollars).
We use our mines to extract materials that are crucial to industries worldwide. In this note, we take a deeper look at the position of South Africa’s mines in the mining landscape globally.
History and development of the industry
South Africa’s mining industry began on an industrial scale when the first copper mine was opened in 1852 in Springbokfontein, in the Northern Cape Province. However, it wasn’t until 1867, years later, that diamonds were discovered, by chance, in Hopetown, followed by gold in the Witwatersrand in 1886. Between the 1870s and 1880s, South Africa supplied approximately 95% of the world’s diamonds.
Today, South Africa has significantly more gold mines than diamond mines. There are also mines for manganese and uranium, among others. With such widespread mining activity, South Africa has become a significant player in the global mining landscape, supplying precious metals to much of the globe.
Mining activities today
Today, mining is the sixth-largest economic sector in South Africa. It is currently the world’s largest producer of platinum, vanadium, manganese, vermiculite, and chrome – and is in second spot for producers of ilmenite, palladium, zirconium and rutile. South African mines are the largest producers of platinum in the world, the third largest producers of coal, and sixth largest of gold.
As with mines across the world, mining in South Africa can have an impact on local communities, but mining companies are increasingly required to assist local business development and outsource services, and it has become commonplace for mines to work with local communities to improve their lives.
Accidents to workers occur most often because of machinery, but cave-ins, heat levels and air quality can also result in fatal accidents and illnesses. However, full safety audits for operating mines have become mandatory in recent years and this has helped to improve conditions in this country’s mines.
South Africa’s mines are unique in that some mines have a low geothermal gradient – which means that the temperature at great depths is often much lower than the temperatures at the same depths in other mines. Because of this, we can generally mine to greater depths in South Africa than in other parts of the world.
Looking to the future
The mining industry will never be without its challenges, in South Africa or anywhere else. However, the industry as a whole is becoming more committed to the principles of responsible mining, and looking to the future, there are many strategies for improvement that are already being implemented.
Along with the increasing demand for more green and renewable resources, South Africa has struggled to maintain the scale of its mining operations. Despite this, the country still boasts significant gold reserves, and is the eighth largest producer of gold in the world.
To keep up with the ever-evolving mining industry, South Africa needs to innovate its mining activities. This could mean using clean coal technologies, optimising water and waste management, or finding alternative uses for coal. It could also mean focusing on land rehabilitation for former mines, to mitigate the environmental and social impacts of mining activity and give back to local communities.
Why are South African mines so important?
Despite the ongoing fight to mine more sustainably, the South African mining industry has, for centuries, been hugely significant for the country’s economic growth. The loss of South Africa’s mining industry altogether could be devastating for both global industries and local communities. For this country and for the global mining landscape, the next step is to find a way to retain economic stability whilst moving towards a more ethical, sustainable future.
