"The industry that everyone knows now will be unrecognizable in five to seven years," said Tony O'Neill, chief technical officer of Anglo American. He was speaking before the first 4IR in Mining seminar in South Africa. The event is scheduled for Gauteng Province on May 31. Baletsema Mining Services, in partnership with BotsZa, is organizing the conference.

"We look forward to welcoming powerful industry champions to our panel as well as important stakeholders in the mining value chain, not only to lead a conversation during the seminar but also to allow the audience to leave the room with a some knowledge of the future of mining and what steps can be taken to ensure as smooth a 4IR transition as possible”; said Bokang Kelepa, Managing Director of Baletsema Mining Services.

Gwede Mantashe, Minister of Mineral Resources, spoke at length during an Invest in African Mining Indaba last February on Mining Charter III and its requirements for locally produced mining goods and services.

“This requirement offers opportunities for South African mining technology companies to make a huge contribution to integrating the fourth industrial revolution into the mining sector and hopefully boosting the entrepreneurial spirit in this regard,” said Mantash.

Thanks to the accession to power of President Cyril Ramaphosa, the South African giant intends to change course in the strategic mining sector. With the key, the appointment of a presidential commission on the 4IR, strong of 30 members and the creation of a commission and that of an environment in which the mining industry will prosper in the interest of all citizens.