South Africa: Leader to Laggard - - SA Mining Is Falling Behind in the Global Technology Race

What the report says

AllAfrica, republishing a Daily Maverick report by Ed Stoddard from Johannesburg, says South Africa’s mining industry is losing ground in the global shift toward digitisation, automation and artificial intelligence. The report, dated 27 July 2026, says the country’s historic strength in mining engineering has not translated into sufficient current investment in domestic research and development.

The article links the assessment to three reports released on Thursday, 23 July, by the Minerals Council South Africa at a mine modernisation conference. According to the report, the council’s chief executive, Mzila Mthenjane, framed modernisation as essential to keeping mining safe, healthy, competitive and viable over the long term. The concern is that falling behind technologically could weaken South Africa’s ability to develop its mineral resources in ways that support the broader economy.

Daily Maverick notes that South Africa still has notable examples of innovation. It cites African Rainbow Minerals’ SmeltDirect initiative, which is presented as a technology that could sharply reduce electricity use in smelting, and Gold Fields’ South Deep mine, where work about 3km underground is conducted remotely from computer screens.

The broader context is that mining companies worldwide are increasingly using digital systems, automated equipment and AI tools to improve productivity, safety and costs. The report suggests South Africa’s challenge is not a total absence of innovation, but a widening gap between isolated advances and the pace of technological change across the global sector.