Menar hosted its eighth annual MJT Mining Literacy Programme on 21 and 22 October 2026, bringing together professionals from a variety of sectors to gain a deeper understanding of the mining industry. 

The programme combined expert-led presentations with practical exposure to mining operations, providing participants with insights into the industry's history, value chain, financing, workforce and prospects. 

Participants represented a diverse cross-section of the mining ecosystem and related industries. The group included students and researchers from the University of the Witwatersrand, the University of Johannesburg, UNISA and the Vaal University of Technology; professionals working in geology, engineering, logistics, auditing, information technology, consulting and marketing as well media practitioner. 

Attendees heard from Prof Nikki Wagner, Director of CIMERA at the University of Johannesburg, on South Africa's mining history, geological background and future minerals. Nellis Bester, Geographical Leader of Ferroglobe PLC and Chairperson of the Ferro Alloy Producers Association (FAPA) provided insights on the state of mineral beneficiation. Dianne Hawker-Kalubi, an experienced mining journalist, author and Programme Director of MJT provide her take on communicating reporting on complex mining topics to diverse audiences. She also provided first-hand account reporting on illegal mining activities. 

There were also high-level presentations on mining investments, trade union activism and the impact of technological innovations on mining. Julian Grieve, head of Resources Investment Banking at RMB spoke about the role financing mining investments. Tanya van Meelis, Head of Policy Unit at labour federation COSATU, on the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on mining related jobs. Methembeni Moyo, head of Africa Practice at NSDV spoke about the growing demand for critical minerals and its implications for Africa and the mining industry. 

Speaking about the importance of initiatives such as MJT, Moyo said greater mining literacy could help foster a more inclusive conversation about the sector. He noted that the industry needed to move beyond an “us versus them” mindset that often frames investors, communities, workers, regulators and businesses as being at odds with one another. Instead, he advocated for a shared narrative focused on how all stakeholders can benefit from Africa's vast mineral resources and growing global demand. 

Van Meelis said the programme equipped participants with a more informed basis for engaging with labour-related issues in mining, moving discussions away from ideology and towards a better understanding of employment trends, workforce composition and how the sector is evolving. “Instead of it being an ideological debate about whether labour is good or whether labour is bad, this initiative has given people more facts and figures around employment, the composition of the workforce, and how it's been changing” she remarked. 

The programme concluded with a visit to Canyon Coal's Khanye Colliery in Bronkhorstspruit, where attendees received an overview of the mining process, from exploration and mine planning through to extraction and product delivery. The visit also included witnessing of a controlled overburden blast. 

Among the attendees was Sharon Mdaka, a writer at IMD, who said one of the programme's highlights was being able to connect concepts discussed in the classroom with what she observed during the site visit. According to Mdaka, linking classroom theory on geology and environmental history directly to onsite activities such as processing and blasting opened new angles for specialist journalists covering the mining sector. 

For Molemoheng Kasimukire, commercial and marketing professional at Rock It Mining, the programme highlighted the value of understanding different perspectives across the mining value chain. Kasimukire said the training encouraged participants to remain open-minded and better assess the broader context, opportunities and trade-offs associated with different operational environments. 

The MJT Mining Literacy Programme forms part of Menar Academy's efforts to improve understanding of the mining industry and create opportunities for professionals from diverse disciplines to engage meaningfully with the sector.