The explosion of illegal mining and its immeasurable economic and social effects have been at a critical point for many years. The annual Mine Security Conference, hosted in Johannesburg, is one of the biggest platform to unite stakeholder efforts to manage security risks in mining and apply an integrated and multifaceted approach against illegal mining and associated crimes surrounding mines.
The conference will emphasize the importance of collaboration, intelligence sharing and community engagement and applying a multi-sectoral approach by bringing together state, private and mine security forces and authorities to unite and apply stronger regulatory and prosecution measures to create stability and investment.
Some of the critical topics that will be addressed at this year’s conference include:
- Strengthening collaboration through PPP between state-, private- and security forces to combat the deteriorating security conditions in and around mines
- Identifying insider threats using intelligence gathering techniques to reveal vulnerabilities before they can be exploited
- Meeting force with force? Deployment and support of specialized security to mobilize stability and gain ground against global crime syndicates and armed attacks
- Overcoming regulatory gaps and ambiguities about what constitutes illegal mining versus artisanal mining – moving towards formalising artisanal mining through proper licensing and regulation
- Combining people and technology, with due consideration of site specific conditions and threats to unlocks the true potential of both
- Whole-of-government approach: State agencies and enforcement authorities will share insights on how they are working together to achieve joint prosecution through inter-agency collaboration and sharing of resources and expertise. Building on PPPs and what support is needed from mines in the fight against illegal mining
- Who is responsible at ownerless mines and closure of shafts – 6000 abandoned mines with illicit trade draining R70-billion from the economy where are we at in terms of statistics and solutions?
- An update on legislative revisions underway to align mining laws and close legal loopholes that organised groups exploit
- “Following the money” and the network of organised crime associated with related crimes in and around your mine
- Circular Economies (CE) and moving away from the take-make-dispose model and working together as corporates, government and communities to address crimes and criminality such as illegal mining, sabotage, malicious damage to property and infrastructure, amongst other challenges towards extending life of mine
- Investment and reputational management and drawing investment to mining by ensuring stability and reinstating SA’s competitiveness in global markets, etc.
