local-supply-on-tap

Local Supply On Tap

SAB’s Go Farming initiative is developing small-scale farmers to meet its current and future raw material needs.

Innovation Is The Key

With today’s budget restraints, especially in the mining sector, it seems virtually impossible for information technology (IT) to meet all business demands. Therefore, IT needs to respond rapidly and innovate in order to stay relevant.

Empowering The Mining Industry: Lessons From The Last 10 Years

The South African mining industry adopted a historical broad-based socio-economic empowerment charter for the South African Mining Industry (Mining Charter) in October 2002.

Pursuing Compliance And Collaboration In Tough Times

Tough economic conditions are forcing mines to reduce costs, but compliance burdens are becoming heavier. Something has to give, unless there is more constructive collaboration between the private sector and government.

Pitfalls Arising From The Financial Provision For Mining Rehabilitation

Mining companies generally make financial provision for rehabilitation by virtue of rehabilitation trusts or financial guarantees through a financial institution or lately, insurance policies. Although a deduction can be claimed for contributions to a rehabilitation trust and the income in such rehabilitation trusts is exempt, cash-strapped mining companies in the current economic environment are finding it tough to contribute the required amount of cash to the rehabilitation trusts.

President Zuma’s Last Chance To Save Gold Mining In SA

A momentous few days for South African mining occurred this month, particularly on 9 October. The South African government and the country’s largest mining union and major mining companies gathered at two different venues and told each other – and the audience, country and the world – how important mining was to South Africa, and… Read more »

Does The Answer To Mineworker Harmony Lie In A Simple Mobile Phone?

The mining industry remains in the spotlight as it continues to feel the pressure of mounting internal and external factors that influence results, market economies and workforce relations. There will always be external influences impacting the operating environment, and I’m no expert on those, so let’s focus our attention on workforce relations? How much strife… Read more »

The Time To Invest Is Now

South African companies in the quarrying industry should consider investing in the growth of their businesses right now, as the world and local economies drag themselves out of a prolonged slump and edge towards improved growth. On the heels of the country’s fifth successfully run election, and a flood of positive data from leading economists,… Read more »

Managing Resettlement For Future Mine Sustainability

Laws regulating the resettlement of communities for mining projects may be poorly defined, such that if they are used literally, then neither the mining company nor the community are protected. This could result in delays to approvals that may affect the viability of operations or development projects. Resettling communities is a negotiated process whereby the… Read more »

Why Mining Will Always Be An Essential Industry

In recent years there has been some debate as to the status of the global mining industry. Questions have been asked: is mining a sunset or a sunrise industry? How can mining survive if global growth is limited? Now that all the “easy” deposits have been mined, where do we go from here?

Law Matters – Keeping Abreast Of Botswana’s Changing Mining Landscape

Mining and minerals tend to form the backbone of the economies of most African countries. Botswana is no different. The success of the Botswana economy over the years is largely due to revenues realised from diamonds which continue to be the mainstay of the economy, currently accounting for more than one-third of GDP, 70-80% of… Read more »

Eskom – Centre Stage, Yet Under Pressure To Empower NDP Goals

Parastatal organisations, as organs of the State and custodians of the various National Development Plan (NDP) Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs), have a duty to lead by example in ensuring that; not only does sustainable social and economic development take place, but also to ensure their continued financial viability and compliance with the laws of the… Read more »

Merger: Two-Year No-Retrenchment Condition

Recently the Competition Tribunal approved a large merger between Sibanye Gold and Newshelf 1114, subject to a two-year no merger-related retrenchments condition.

The Distributional Impacts Of A Carbon Tax In The Mining Sector

Most policy decisions produce winners and losers in the economy. Companies and entire sectors can find themselves better or worse off as a result of new or changed regulation. Even though the ultimate economy-wide impact of a policy may be positive in the long run, the negative impact of short-term adjustments should not be underestimated.… Read more »

Death of SA Mining: Facts, Fiction And Fantasy

Nothing grabs attention in the headlines like ‘Death’, ‘Destruction’, ‘Debt’ and of course ‘Mining’. Why these four words are so regularly used and misused so often by the government, unions and the press – is testament to their success in getting the masses’ attention – and reaction. And that reaction is always emotional and often… Read more »

National Municipal Benchmarking Initiative For Water Services

Water security is one of the most tangible social, political and economic challenges faced by communities across the globe today. Shantalie Hewavisenti discusses the MBI with William Moraka.

Celebrating 20 Years Of Democracy

As South Africa reflects on the past two decades of its democracy, it is time to take stock of both the country’s achievements, outlined in the recent 20- Year Review, as well as the challenges that lie ahead. Katherine Graham interviewed four previous SALGA chairpersons to glean their insights on the accomplishments made in the sphere of local government.

Reviewing The Audit Process

Municipal leaders share their views on the municipal audit process. ILZE HUGO reports.

Think Independently, Invest In Skills

Former Black Management Forum (BMF) president Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu bemoans the fact that 20 years into democracy South Africa still has not embarked on a massive skills upliftment programme aimed at deepening the professional skills required to transform the economy.

Back To The Blueprint

Themba Dlamini is the new MD of the BMF. Describing himself as diligent, decisive and an honest leader, he has the task of leading the organisation forward in its quest to improve the country’s transformation statistics. Less than two months into the job, he talks agenda with African Leader editor, Thando Pato.