Work done to date has indicated that the conversion to mechanisation significantly extends mine life;
preserves mining employment;
improves safety and health; and
allows the mining of lower-grade
orebodies and deeper resources. The Minerals Council is of the
view that the positive outcomes
of modernisation will outweigh the challenges that will inevitably be
encountered along the way. To remain globally competitive and achieve
zero harm, the mining sector can
ill afford to delay these efforts and
the Minerals Council will continue to collaborate with all stakeholders to accelerate this journey.
The adoption of the new
technologies requires reskilling
the mine workers. According to
the PWC research of the mining companies’ response to 4IR,
most respondents believe there will be a change in the nature
of the workforce to more skilled
employees over the next 5 years
and a decrease in unskilled workers.
IN SUMMARY, THE TOP THREE CHALLENGES TO IMPLEMENTATION OF 4IR TECHNOLOGY IN SA MINES ARE: Low data management maturity Low workforce skills Concern about cyber security
HAVE WE ADOPTED INTERNATIONAL TOOLS AND PRACTICES?
TOP500 11th Edition
adoption of 4IR technologies with
The PWC reports that they had
mixed feelings.
believe are consistent with other
The Minerals Council of South
by local mining executives.
companies across the mining
IOT will get the biggest share of the
a million workers, cannot ignore
for industry-wide adoption is bright
workers in the industry.
successful deployments of IOT and
That is why the Minerals council’s
bottom line.
implementation of 4IR in the industry
The report says SA’s mining
This means the focus is not only on
technologies over the next five
but also on work culture, upskilling
technologies found to be condition
be able to create new better, safer,
identified 10 emerging trends they international studies and can be used
Africa which represents 84
The trends include how industrial
industry that employs almost half
budgets. It says the sector outlook
the trade unions who represent the
as mining organisations are reporting the positive impact it has on their
approach to the introduction and
is that it should be ‘People-centric’.
community plan to use 4IR
technology advancement at the mines
years, adding that most implemented
and reskilling, and that 4IR should
monitoring at nearly 80% across all
healthier, and more fulfilling jobs.
IOT at almost 60%.
Frans Baleni, former general secretary
“Nearly 50% of respondents had
once said: “the reality on the ground
expect the implementation numbers
key stakeholders on this matter of the
respondents, and connectivity and
of the National Union of Mineworkers
piloted AI programmes recently and
calls for a serious conversation with
to increase significantly over the next
4IR and the future of work.”
using robotic process automation,
“Never before has it become so
implement it within five years. Nearly
stand up as one voice and participate
virtual reality (VR) to train staff, while
fact that non-participation may lead
further 28% intended to implement
curse and not an opportunity.”
the report.
Gideon du Plessis, General Secretary
HOW UNIONS ARE APPROACHING THESE CHANGES
make “skills development” the core
five years. 35% of respondents were with another 10% planning to
compelling for organised labour to
a third of all respondents already use
in shaping the 4IR than today. It is a
20% were currently piloting and a
to labour concluding that the 4IR is a
VR training within five years,” reads
The unions in the mining industry
are closely monitoring the changes
79
coming with the introduction and
of Solidarity’s advice to unions is to of their salary negotiations as from
this year to enhance job security for their members.