Mining companies in South Africa have given advance notice of 32 000 job cuts as commodity prices decline, Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane has told the media. Mining accounts for more than half of South Africa’s exports and employs 440 000 people, which is critical in a country with a 25% official unemployment rate and a far higher unofficial one. Job cuts in the iron-ore sector are imminent, with JSE-listed Kumba Iron Ore expecting to cut 3 933 jobs as it shrinks its Sishen iron-ore mine and restructures in three other iron-ore-linked companies, putting 1 025 jobs at risk, according to Solidarity deputy general secretary for energy, Deon Reyneke, who warned of serious socioeconomic consequences.