Minerals and Energy Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka on Thursday launched the Bopa Batho foundation, whose mission is to bring the previously disadvantaged into the mining industry.
Speaking in Johannesburg, she said the development of human resources was critical to South Africa’s economic growth.
This aspect of the economy had been ”neglected to a horrifying degree during the apartheid era”, she said.
”Skills shortages are inhibiting economic growth and the creation of new jobs. Compared to other countries with similar economies South Africa still has too many unskilled people and not enough that are professionally qualified and skilled.”
She said there was a need to develop human resources holistically across the mining sector.
This would include training for small-scale miners and upgrading the levels of maths and science among students entering the industry.
Bopa Batho is an initiative of Mintek, otherwise known as the Council for Mineral Technology, a statutory body which develops new technology for the mining industry.
A spokesperson Dr Francis Petersen said the Bopa Batho Foundation had initiated a ”human resource pipeline” which would develop the areas of small-scale mining, upgrade maths and science at school level, develop training at technikons and provide support at undergraduate and post-graduate levels.
Petersen said: ”Bopa Batho has a holistic approach to human resource development ranging from basic skills such as those needed for informal or artisanal mining and rural jewellery development to practical training of technicians and advanced high level skills development.”
Bateman Africa announced on Thursday five percent of its shareholding had been allocated to Bopa Batho to ”ensure there is a structured approach in the development of black professionals in the minerals sector.” – Sapa