Precious metals mining company Sibanye Gold sprung a surprise on the industry last week when it unveiled this mining machine to the 440 registered attendees of the Joburg Indaba. Having put up his hand to be South Africa’s next diversified mining champion, Sibanye CEO Neal Froneman (far right) has become the centre of regular news breaks. He has announced two acquisitions in two months, and now a new way of negotiating South Africa’s notoriously space-restricted mining areas that are hardly the height of a dining room table. Froneman says this foray into mechanised mining is merely the start of a comprehensive Sibanye modernisation programme that will cover all aspects of what has become an exceedingly tough business.