Minerals Council of South Africa has announced a strategic investment partnership with African Mining Indaba.

The partnership comes into effect in February next year.

The minerals council has long been a supporter, partner and participant in the annual in-person Mining Indaba. Mining Indaba in local language refers to annual mining conference.

However, this year the conference was held virtually owing to the health threats posed by the coronavirus. South Africa is one of the countries hit hard by the virus.

The Mining Indaba attracts thousands of people who represent governments, investment companies, media and other stakeholders to Cape Town every year to participate in discussion on how to attract and channel investments into African mining.

“The global pandemic means that things will need to be different in February 2021 and we salute the organisers for taking the early step to transform this event onto a virtual platform,” the MCSA says in a statement upon sealing the partnership.

Minerals Council members are now expected to play an active role in the Mining Indaba Virtual and support Mining Indaba with relevant, timely and constructive content.

Senior Executive of Public Affairs and Transformation Tebello Chabana says, “We are delighted to be able to partner with Mining Indaba to keep investing in African mining on the global agenda. It is an ideal place for companies and investors to meet, for governments to illustrate their support for mining, and for other stakeholders to connect and debate fundamentally important issues. As the representative of most South African mining and exploration companies, the Minerals Council is ideally placed to help shape the agenda and to further our purpose of making mining matter (to local companies).”

Portfolio Director for Investing in African Mining Indaba and Africa Oil Week Simon Ford adds, “We are pleased to announce our partnership with the Minerals Council South Africa. They bring to the table unmatched expertise, a great network of connections and will undoubtedly be an asset to the event. As our host country, supporting South Africa in its efforts to build back a stronger industry is a priority for us. We look forward to addressing common challenges and engaging in fresh thinking together with the Minerals Council.”

• A Tell report