The 2026 Joburg Indaba – an annual highlight event for South Africa’s mining sector – stood out for the quality of the leadership and the authenticity of the discussions, according to SRK Consulting (South Africa) managing director Andrew van Zyl.
“The Joburg Indaba has never been about presenting a rosy picture of South African mining but rather about creating a space where the industry’s challenges and opportunities can be honestly and constructively discussed,” said Van Zyl. “This year it was apparent how the current and future leadership of the industry are competent to respond to these challenges.”
He said the event was particularly rewarding for participants’ willingness to acknowledge the current pitfalls while focusing on practical strategies to realise the exciting potential of mining.
“Nobody shied away from the myriad challenges faced by the country and the industry,” he said. “This was testament to the quality of leadership in mining and the positive attitude that characterises our local culture.”
World class leadership
A case in point was the induction of Natascha Viljoen into the Joburg Indaba SA Mining Hall of Fame. As the first female President and CEO of Newmont – which is the world’s largest gold miner – Viljoen cut her teeth in the South African mining sector. Her position is emblematic of the depth of leadership and technical capability in the local industry, he said.
“We retain a world class foundation for mineral development, and often underestimate the potential of the country to transform those aspects of our economy and society that need improvement,” he said. “There are some fantastic leaders in this industry, capable of driving success not only locally but at the highest levels of global mining. Our past and current challenges provide opportunities for people to develop a breadth and depth of experience and skill that can be applied in any setting.”
This leadership is particularly important at a time when mining faces an unusually complex combination of pressures. Geopolitical uncertainty, strategic minerals and disrupted supply routes are adding risk and complexity to investment decisions, while the industry continues to contend with safety, infrastructure, electricity and logistics challenges – alongside municipal service delivery capacity.
Potential within reach
“While the Joburg Indaba was able to explore these obstacles and possible solutions, it was clear that there is considerable opportunity to unlock much more value from our mineral resources,” he explained. “It was encouraging to see that these achievements are within our grasp, if we can work together towards common goals.”
He highlighted how South Africa’s mines are deeply connected not only to the wider economy but to the effectiveness of local municipalities and infrastructure. With the local government elections looming, the prospects for improvement would serve mining as much as it would benefit the broader society and economy.
Immediate benefits
“The insights from speakers inside and outside the mining sector pointed to the value to be created by improving our municipalities,” he noted. “On a national level, there is so much immediate benefit to be gained from addressing crime and corruption, for instance, which would boost confidence, value, wealth and opportunities.”
Logistics is an important example. Progress through initiatives such as Operation Vulindlela, particularly around power, logistics and environmental processes, can create benefits well beyond individual mining operations. Similarly, stronger cooperation between government and industry – including the constructive engagement between the Minerals Council and the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources discussed at the Joburg Indaba – provides grounds for optimism.
Global ambition
Another reflection of the local mining industry’s underlying strength is the international reach of South African mining companies. Despite challenges facing the domestic sector, some companies continue to invest and expand internationally – with a leading local gold miner recently acquiring assets in Australia.
“We see South African mining companies building global footprints rather than limiting their ambitions to the local market,” said Van Zyl. “This demonstrates how our companies retain the skills, expertise and financial capability to compete on the world stage. The challenging times that we have been through as an industry have prepared our leadership for global relevance – and they have the experience and skills to be effective in any jurisdiction.”
Perhaps the most important message emerging from the Joburg Indaba is that the mining sector’s future can be secured by confronting challenges and working collaboratively to resolve them.
“We have the people and we have the resources – in this generation and the next one,” he concluded. “There is no reason why we can’t achieve the improvements that are envisaged for mining and society generally.”