The Crucible - Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM)

In this inspiring and deeply personal talk, Dr Jeannette McGill shares the 30-year journey behind her summit of Mount Everest — a dream that began as a quiet “one-day” goal and evolved into a test of resilience, commitment, and courage. From pioneering roles in the mining and technology sectors to multiple attempts on the world’s highest peak, she reflects on setbacks, turning back when it mattered most, and the discipline of consistent preparation.

More than a story about climbing Everest, this is a powerful reminder that extraordinary achievements are built through daily commitment, calculated risk, and the willingness to begin — even when success isn’t guaranteed. Visit the SAIMM Website

In this special episode of The Crucible, current SAIMM President Gary Lane sits down with Past President Dr. Elias Matinde to reflect on their personal journeys, leadership philosophies, and the future of the mining and metallurgy profession.

What starts as a conversational exchange between two leaders becomes an insightful look into mentorship, volunteering, skill development, and the evolving needs of the mining industry. Gary and Elias discuss their backgrounds, the impact of SAIMM on industry knowledge-sharing, and the critical role of young professionals in shaping the sector’s future. Visit the SAIMM Website

In this episode of The Crucible, Kabelo Rathobei (Researcher PhD Candidate | Luleå University of Technology) sits down with Boitumelo Nkomo, the Women in Mining (WIM) Programme Manager at the Minerals Council South Africa, to unpack one of the sector’s most persistent challenges: discrimination and unconscious bias in hiring and promotions.

Drawing from over 20 years of experience and deep sector-wide engagement, Boitumelo provides historical context, insight into structural biases, and clarity on what meaningful transformation requires within mining workplaces. Visit the SAIMM Website

In this episode of The Crucible, Dr Kym Morton leads a powerful discussion on the evolving science, technology, and governance of tailings management. She is joined by Justin Walls (SRK Consulting), Simone Maharaj (Impala Platinum), and Alistair Bovim (Insight Terra), who share insights into how mining houses and consultants are improving the safety, efficiency, and accountability of tailings storage facilities (TSFs). Visit the SAIMM Website

This episode of The Crucible unpacks the relaunch of the SAIMM Diversity & Inclusion Committee with Zohreh Fakhraei, Mark Munroe, Selma Matshego, Maria Combrink, and Annah Kgaswane. They share their journeys in the mining industry, what diversity and inclusion mean to them, and the shifts they want to see - from inclusive leadership and flexible work policies to treating Diversity and Inclusion with the same urgency as safety and production in the minerals sector.

This conversation highlights how the committee aims to move beyond tick-box compliance toward meaningful action that creates a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable mining sector. Visit the SAIMM Website

In this episode of The Crucible, host Adelle Coetzee speaks with renowned tailings expert Andrew Copeland about the critical alignment of South Africa’s SANS 10286 standard with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM).

This episode provides deep insights into the historical context, the urgent need for reform following past dam failures, and the multi-stakeholder drafting process behind the revised standard. Visit the SAIMM Website

Building Trust, Empowering Communities, and Securing the Social License.

In this episode of The Crucible, host Kabelo Rathobei is joined by Alex Khumalo, Head of Social Performance at the Minerals Council South Africa, for a deep dive into the often-misunderstood concept of the social license to operate (SLO) in the mining sector.

Together, they explore why legal compliance alone is no longer enough, and how mining companies must shift their focus from box-ticking exercises to building genuine, long-term partnerships with host communities. Khumalo discusses the importance of going beyond compliance, the role of government and policy, and why collaboration and economic diversification are key to sustainable development.

Whether you're in mining, policy, or community engagement, this conversation offers valuable insight into the evolving expectations of the mining industry in South Africa. Visit the SAIMM Website

The world’s dependency on metals has become more evident with the growing demand for metals required to drive advancements in the technological and digital landscape, and the energy transition for a carbon neutral future. This growing demand, however, implies that the metal extraction industry will need to play a significant role in providing the world with vast quantities of metals, crucial in the building of the necessary infrastructure. Join Buhle Xakalashe and Jochen Petersen for their discussion on the future of Hydrometallurgy.

This episode was recorded with the Hydrometallurgy Conference in mind, which has since passed, but we believe that this is a pertinent episode which continues to drive the post-conference conversation forward. Visit the SAIMM Website

In this compelling episode of The Crucible, former SAIMM President Zelmia Botha (Koketso Project & Commissioning Manager at Anglo American), sits down with Erwee Lourens (Senior Manager of Progress at ArcelorMittal South Africa) to explore South Africa’s ambitious decarbonisation efforts.

Erwee, an industry expert, dives into the pressing challenges and groundbreaking opportunities on the path to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. He unpacks the complex balancing act between meeting the country’s energy demands and reducing emissions, emphasising that South Africa’s energy sector remains the largest contributor to carbon output. He also highlights the stark contrast between developed nations with greater resources for decarbonisation, and South Africa’s need to navigate its transition carefully to avoid economic disruption.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of energy, sustainability, and the evolving industrial landscape in South Africa. Visit the SAIMM Website

In this episode, Nicole Wansbury and Ken Lomberg delve into the South African Code for the Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources, and Mineral Reserves (SAMREC Code), a crucial framework for ensuring transparent and standardised reporting in the mining industry.

This episode features Ken Lomberg (former chairperson and current Director at Pivot Mining Consultants) and Nicole Wansbury (the new chairperson) explore the significance of this essential code, which has been setting the benchmark for responsible mineral asset reporting since 2000.

Managed by the SAIMM and GSSA, the SAMREC Code ensures that mineral resources are reported accurately and consistently across all commodities and geological environments. The discussion also covers key topics such as the pivotal role of Competent Persons (CPs), the importance of technical studies in guiding project development, and how governance is embedded within the code’s framework.

Don’t miss this insightful conversation about the code that continues to shape the future of mining and mineral reporting! Visit the SAIMM Website