This year’s Joburg Indaba will focus heavily on the economic environment and the South African government’s role in encouraging investment in the embattled local mining sector, says investment conference specialist and organiser of the Joburg Indaba, Resources 4 Africa.

Resources 4 Africa CEO Paula Munsie tells Mining Weekly that the Indaba – due to take place from October 3 to 4 at the Inanda Club, in Johannesburg – will act as a “reality check” by providing industry stakeholders with an opportunity to scrutinise the overall state of the local economy and mining industry.

One of the key themes – what government can do to improve the industry’s “woes” and attract investment into mining – was selected because “the country is in need of investment in the mining sector to drive job creation and improve the state of the local economy”, Munsie explains.

“The 2018 Joburg Indaba will provide a platform for the most topical local-industry issues to be debated openly and participation from all quarters, including labour, mining industry corporations, government, investors and media, will be encouraged.”

Attendees can expect to reflect on a broad range of topics, such as the overall progress that has been made in the local mining industry over the past decade and issues facing key commodities that are driving the local sector.

The conference will also host talks from influential speakers and key stakeholders, with opportunities to engage on specific industry challenges, such as safety, investment, technology, beneficiation and community engagement.

Munsie expects that regulatory changes, such as land reform considerations, Mining Charter III, labour and social contracts, as well as investment drivers, will be among the topics to take centre stage.

She says that, since the previous Joburg Indaba, South Africa has had a change in leadership at national level, and at Ministerial level which, coupled with persisting economic pressures and fresh changes to the Mining Charter III, will impact on the sector.

High-powered officials from government, State-owned enterprises (SOEs) and industry, as well as investors, communities, organised labour, industry experts and thought leaders are expected to attend. Representatives from mining houses, such as Anglo American, AngloGold Ashanti, Sibanye-Stillwater, Impala Platinum and South32, are expected. Talks presented by the Minerals Council South Africa (MCSA), as well as several investment, consulting and social impact organisations, are also expected.

During the two-day event, more than 60 speakers will offer innovative approaches and industry insights. Speakers include MCSA chief executive Roger Baxter, exploration-stage company PanEx Resources principal Anton Esterhuizen and South32 chief operating officer Mike Fraser.

An Intimate Environment

Munsie reiterates that the Joburg Indaba was conceived by Resources 4 Africa in 2013, owing to the increasing need for investment in the natural resources and mining sectors, particularly in South Africa.

The event has attracted top government and industry speakers, with increased media coverage year-on-year since the launch of the first Indaba in 2013 very apparent, she adds.

“The event has proved highly successful every year largely as a result of the no-nonsense, straight-talking, open and honest discussions for which the Indaba has become renowned, which enables speakers and delegates to really get to the heart of the issues affecting the South African mining industry.”

However, she adds that, despite the event’s popularity, Resources 4 Africa attempts to limit attendance to retain the “intimate, engaging platform style” characteristic of the event. The organisers expect that this year’s event will sell out, with a maximum capacity of between 500 to 600 attendees. Last year’s Indaba boasted a sell-out 575 attendees.

“As a whole, mining industry stakeholders can make changes to legislation and push the powers that be, driving investment, but only collectively. The Joburg Indaba is an exceptionally powerful platform for airing issues that need to be dealt with by government and companies,” Munsie concludes.