Modern Quarrying Q1 2025

THE START OF A NEW DAWN FOR QUARRYING?

I n the recent State of the in South Africa could assist with getting the rampant unemployment rate down and improving the basic living conditions of millions, and he announced announced various grand plans to set the country on a road to growth. Data shows, shockingly, that the construction industry is half the size of what it was a decade ago. The construction sector’s entire supply chain, one of the largest employers in South Africa, is suf fering – from quarries, to cement production to civil engineers and builders. Of course we have heard it before, this heralding of infrastruc ture development as a way to get the masses working, to improve living conditions and for South Africa’s development to return to an upwards curve. The difference this time around is that his recent state Nation address, President Cyril Ramaphosa outlined how much infrastructure development

economic growth as this will lead to increased productivity, job creation and improving the delivery of basic services. Details of what this infrastructure development would entail, occu pied a major part of his address. Measures include projects in water and sanitation, human settlements, renewable energy, recreation, her itage and maritime infrastructure. Obviously, there is also road reha bilitation, the refurbishing of state owned buildings, and the upgrading of health facilities. These measures may be good news for the quarrying industry as this industry feeds construction and is often the first industry to feel the effects of change – both increased production or decreased production. This issue is being distributed at the Institute of Quarrying Southern Africa’s annual conference in Durban (3 and 4 April) and focuses on all the core aspects of quar rying – crushing and screening, load and haul, drilling and blast ing and conveying. The quarrying industry is hoping for the start of the next phase of development. It has invested in technology, safety, human resources and logistics and is ready to supply the construction industry with the aggregate needed to take this country forward. l

of the nation address comes on the back of the ANC’s support dipping to far below a majority that forced to governing party to be in a govern ment of national unity. It is a misnomer that ANC voters habitually vote for the govern ing party, no matter the context. Research has shown that ANC voters voted for the governing party because, in general, the economy improved – insofar as their own lives were concerned. In the last election, its lack of support coin cided closely with a decline in eco nomic growth of the last few years. So, I suspect that this time around, he is more serious. If these plans fail over the next five years, then the ANC may become insignificant. Ramaphosa said that the only way to arrest this decline is to make infrastructure development a strategic priority for government. He mentioned the role of airports, roads, railways, public transit systems, water, energy and tele coms infrastructure in driving such

COMMENT

EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Wilhelm du Plessis quarrying@crown.co.za ADVERTISING Erna Oosthuizen ernao@crown.co.za DESIGN Ano Shumba

CIRCULATION Karen Smith MANAGING DIRECTOR Karen Grant PRINTED BY: Tandym Print

PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY: Crown Publications P O Box 140

Bedfordview, 2008 Tel: +27 11 622 4770 Fax: +27 11 615 6108 www.crown.co.za

TOTAL CIRCULATION Q4 2025: 7 015

The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor or the publisher.

Wilhelm du Plessis – Editor quarrying@crown.co.za

2

MODERN QUARRYING QUARTER 1 | 2025