Industry leaders descend on Sandton for Joburg Indaba

Chaired by Bernard Swanepoel, the Joburg Indaba will take place on 8 and 9 October 2025 at the Inanda Club, Sandton. The event promises candid and insightful discussions about the current state of the mining sector in South Africa and about how all stakeholders can work together to ensure that the industry finds solutions to its most pressing challenges, grasps the opportunities of the moment and contributes to future economic growth and the reindustrialisation of the country.

It is at this 13th edition of the Joburg Indaba that the honourable Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, will be giving the closing keynote address on Thursday, 9 October. In addition, over 45 industry leaders will be sharing their insights and views on the South African mining industry and global developments impacting it.

Some of the highlights you can expect this year, include:

• An opening keynote session in conversation with Duncan Wanblad, CEO, Anglo American, on the company’s perspective on South Africa and Africa.
• A keynote address by Paul Dunne, president, Minerals Council South Africa and CEO, Northam Platinum, on the trade-offs between growth and transformation – can we achieve both at the same time?
• The impact of recent geopolitical shifts on South Africa and its mining industry, led by Wickus Botha, Energy & Natural Resources Market Segment leader – Africa Region, EY with Richard Stewart, CEO, Sibanye-Stillwater; Lullu Krugel, chief economist, PwC; Vuslat Bayoglu, managing director, Menar and Otsile Matlou, COO, ENS.
•  A one-on-one conversation with Ben Magara, CEO, Exxaro Resources, on why diversification is not just about growth, but about reducing risk, ensuring long-term value and future-proofing African mining companies.
•  The importance of PGMs with Craig Miller, CEO, Valterra Platinum; Richard Stewart, CEO, Sibanye-Stillwater and Nico Muller, CEO, Implats.
•  An update on Eskom: its current performance and plans to guarantee energy security in the future, with Dr Mteto Nyati, chair, Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd.
• Kumba’s continued investment in premium quality iron ore with Mpumi Zikalala, CEO, Kumba Iron Ore.
• Gold’s continuing relevance in the SA mining industry, with Richard Cox, chief regional officer: SA Region, Sibanye-Stillwater; Benford Mokoatle, executive vice-president: South Africa, Gold Fields and Billy Mawasha, CEO, Bokamoso Gold in a panel discussion chaired by Andries Rossouw, Energy, Utilities and Resources Leader, PwC Africa.
• The evolving role of coal in a just and sustainable energy transition, chaired by Thabi Malatji, Strategy and Innovation Partner, EY Parthenon with Mike Teke, group chief executive, Seriti Resources and chair, FutureCoal; Ruan Nothnagel, chief commercial officer, Menar and Moses Madondo, CEO, Thungela.
•  Advocate Michelle Philips, group chief executive, Transnet, will address the audience on the progress that Transnet is making and its ongoing plans for rail and port restructuring and expansion.
•  Richard Sellschop, senior partner, global co-leader of Metals and Mining, McKinsey & Company, will discuss the G20’s relevance for mining and the South African mining industry.
•  How to create an enabling environment that supports current and future mining opportunities in South Africa, chaired by Ntsiki Adonisi, head of Natural Resources and Environment Practice, ENS with Mzila Mthenjane, CEO, Minerals Council South Africa; Jacob Mbele, director-general, Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR); Nolitha Fakude, chair, Management Board, Anglo American in South Africa; Mosa Mabuza, CEO, Council for Geoscience and Lemogang Pitsoe, CEO, African Exploration Mining and Finance Corporation (AEMFC).
• The resilience of the diamonds market will be addressed by Barend Petersen, executive chair, De Beers.
• How are we shaping the future of mining? This question will be answered by Johan Coetzee, managing director, Strategy & Consulting lead – Mining & Natural Resources, Accenture; Andre Joubert, chief executive ARM Ferrous, African Rainbow Minerals and Patrick Morutlwa, group COO, Implats – chaired by Colin Coleman, banker, academic and thought leader.

A discussion on how to develop/transfer skills to the next generation of mining professionals, chaired by Kudakwashe Maramba, sales director, EAME, Urban Solutions – Mining & Metals, Fluor will feature Phillip Tobias, CEO, African Rainbow Minerals and James Smith, CEO, DRA Global.

A conversation on factors influencing investor confidence and mining companies’ capital allocation decisions will be chaired by Wilhelm Schultz, managing director, Partners in Performance, part of Accenture with Sayurie Naidoo, CFO, Valterra Platinum; Riaan Koppeschaar, director of Finance, Exxaro Resources; Caroline Donally, managing partner, Sprott Resource Streaming and Royalty; Herman Perry, CFO –Treasury, Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited and Doug Gain, CFO, Seriti Resources.

How mining and beneficiation could be a catalyst for the re-industrialisation of South Africa, will be led by Bernard Swanepoel, with Roger Baxter, executive chair, Southern Palladium; Prashaen Reddy, partner, Kearney and Claude de Baissac, CEO, Eunomix.