SA’s mining industry must put people at the heart of its digital future
October 2026
IT in Manufacturing
Tshidi Mndzebele
Digitalisation, artificial intelligence and technology are in the spotlight, and award-winning woman engineer and AvenirHoldings chief executive officer, Tshidi Mndzebele says technology must drive greater efficiency without creating fear, and that people must be given the skills and opportunities to succeed alongside it.
South Africa’s mining industry employs around 470 000 people, while its digital transition is accelerating. According to the CSIR’s State of Digitalisation and 4IR in South African Mining study, all of the mining leaders surveyed are making the transition to digitalisation. The figures point to an industry in transition and to an important question. As technology moves deeper into mining, are people moving forward with it?
For Mndzebele, the answer must be yes. “Technology is not here to replace the people who are employed in the industry. It is here to enable greater efficiency and help people do their jobs better,” she says.
1. Put people at the centre of implementation
Technology cannot simply be introduced and expected to work. Employees need to understand why it is being introduced, how it will affect their work and where they fit into the new environment.
2. Replace fear with awareness
Fear of technology can become a barrier to transformation. Companies need to communicate openly, create awareness and give employees the confidence to engage with new systems and processes.
3. Upskill and reskill for what comes next
As technology changes jobs, the answer should not be job reduction. Investment in digital skills, training and reskilling can help existing employees adapt to changing roles and new opportunities.
4. Use technology to enable efficiency, not to replace people
Mining faces constant pressure to improve productivity, safety and competitiveness. Digital tools can help achieve this, but the objective should be to strengthen human capability rather than remove it.
5. Make sure South Africa moves forward together
South Africa has pockets of excellence in 4IR and emerging technologies, but Mndzebele believes the progress needs to become broader. “The fear must be removed, and we need to close the awareness gap for the benefit of the people in the industry,” she says.
For Mndzebele, the real measure of digital transformation will lie less in how much technology mining adopts and more in how effectively it translates that technology into greater efficiency, stronger skills and better opportunities for the people behind the industry.
For more information contact AvenirHoldings, +27 10 541 0593,[email protected], www.avenirgroup.co.za
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