Modern Mining September 2025

MINING INDABA

The mining industry is reimagining itself, empowering the youth as a precious asset for the future. Across the sector, stakeholders have committed to attracting young people and unlocking their full potential. Mining sector refines young talent – its most valuable resource

established by the Industrial Development Corporation, the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources and The Council for Geoscience, gives junior mining businesses access to significant funding. In terms of the culture of the industry, Mahlangu says there has been some progress in attracting young people into the business and hearing their voices. “I’ve been fortunate to access platforms like AfriMine and the Mining Indaba Influencer initiative, where my voice has been heard, valued, and supported. However, in traditional spaces, young professionals still have to prove themselves before being taken seriously,” she says. “The sector is learning to trust fresh perspectives, but we must continue building inclusive environments that actively invite young professionals and listen to them.” An industry vision Mahlangu is optimistic about the industry and its moves to integrate young people into its strategic structures. The two young mining professionals are part of the Mining Indaba 2026 Influencer Campaign — an initiative to amplify authentic voices shaping the future of mining in Africa. The campaign aims to showcase stories of innovation, sustainability and impact across the mining value chain, in line with the Mining Indaba 2026 theme: “Stronger Together: Progress Through Partnerships.” “The next generation of mining professionals aren’t just the future of mining, they are the game-changers who are driving its evolution,” explains Mining Indaba’s content and communities director, Laura Nicholson. “Mining Indaba offers the youth platforms to empower emerging talent to learn, experiment, and articulate a bold vision for the industry. In challenging periods, new perspectives are a powerful investment in a future built on ingenuity, resilience and ambition.” n

A s a critical economic sector economy – and across society – to unlock value and opportunities for all role players. Clear evidence of this is the growing cohort of young people in the industry. This year’s flagship mining-sector event, Investing in African Mining Indaba 2025, saw a strong youth presence, with an entire day of the event dedicated to a Young Leaders Programme. The programme featured a keynote speech by South African Deputy Minister of Minerals and Petroleum Resources Phumzile Mgcina, as well as panel discussions and networking sessions for current and prospective young mining professionals. Well-attended panel discussions saw young Africans sharing their vision for the industry, and how to unlock the continent’s full youth potential. A group of more than 10 PhD students in mining related fields were also integrated into committed to inclusive growth, the mining industry is evolving rapidly, building partnerships across the

the programme, bringing more youth perspectives to the event. ‘Speak our language’ A recurring theme has been that to empower young people in the sector, mining must speak the language of young Africans, on issues they can relate to. In many cases, that is about inclusivity and sustainability. “Young professionals are looking for purpose-driven careers that offer impact, growth, innovation and inclusivity,” says recent mining graduate Nomvula Mahlangu, currently completing her internship at Sibanye Stillwater’s Gold Division. Mahlangu, 26, believes the mining sector can bring more young people into the industry by continuing to create flexible learning pathways, mentorship structures, and platforms for innovation and leadership. The broader industry has shown growing enthusiasm to create such platforms. The R400-million Junior Mining Exploration Fund, for instance,

SEPTEMBER 2025 | www.modernminingmagazine.co.za  MODERN MINING  7