Did you know that the word ‘coal’ comes from the Old English ‘col’, meaning glowing ember? This piece of trivia, along with in-depth mining info, is featured  on the Mining for Schools website that was launched by the Minerals Council South Africa (MCSA) to promote the mining industry to learners and their teachers and parents. To attract young people to the industry, they need to understand how absolutely critical mining is for society, says Mustak Ally, the MCSA’s head of skills development.

‘Minerals and metals touch every aspect  of our lives. A low-carbon future will not  be possible without the mining industry supplying the minerals needed for the transition,’ he says. While the school’s website mainly intends to supplement the national school curriculum for Grade 10–12 learners, there’s also the hope that some  will choose mining as a career.

‘We always need young people to join  the mining industry,’ says Ally. ‘Anecdotal feedback from mining companies suggests that mining operations have a mature workforce, so it’s essential to develop a pipeline  of young people to ensure the long-term sustainability of the industry.’ A 2023 report  by Deloitte warned that the world’s ageing mining workforce and imminent retirement of many experienced engineers pose a serious challenge to global mining, made worse by not recruiting enough youth to meet the future skills demand.

However, fresh voices are being invited to the industry. The Investing in Africa Mining Indaba 2025, for example, dedicated an entire day to its Young Leaders programme and has launched an ‘influencer’ campaign. It’s a new marketing strategy for this old-school sector that, according to a recent Forbes article, aims to attract new talent by ‘creating an authentic and engaging narrative’ about mining. ‘A partnership with influencers who share their real-life experiences in mining can help companies recruit younger workers who may not have otherwise considered the industry,’ says the Forbes article. ‘Influencers who showcase responsible mining practices, technological advancements and community engagement efforts can help reshape public perception.’

That’s what influencer Nomvula Mahlangu  – a young mining engineer currently gaining hands-on experience as an intern at Sibanye Stillwater – wants to achieve. The Wits Mining School graduate uses her affiliation with  the Mining Indaba and AfriMine (a non-profit focused on empowering youth and professionals in mining in South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Egypt and the DRC) to shift perceptions. ‘Mining is no longer just a “dirty, dangerous job” confined underground; it’s the backbone of modern civilisation,’ she says. ‘From smartphones to solar panels, mining underpins innovation. It’s time we present it that way: modern, dynamic, impactful and open to all kinds of people.’

To spread this message, Mahlangu openly talks about her career path. ‘It wasn’t luck.  It was intention, preparation and hard work,’ she says on LinkedIn. ‘If you’re curious  about how I got there, I’m happy to share  my journey.’ She jokingly calls herself a ‘gold digger’ on her social media, where she produces short, animated clips that show skilled trades in a mine – from drillers to riggers, electricians to safety officers – which she says are essential but typically remain behind the scenes. ‘Through relatable content, animations and real-life experiences, I try to demystify the industry and bridge the gap between assumption and reality,’ says Mahlangu. ‘The content I create aims to balance that ratio by making technical spaces more approachable and inclusive. Representation matters, and I try to be the example I once needed.’ While her audience is still roughly 70% male and 30% female, reflecting the industry demographics, she specifically targets girls and young women.

Now is a good time for Africa’s youth  to consider a mining career. The global scramble for critical minerals presents the continent with a rare opportunity to create meaningful mining jobs, according to Ally. These are not only in traditional mining employment, he says, but also in alternative mining technologies as mining modernises and embraces environmental and social sustainability. ‘There are significant opportunities in the digital and data spaces, while compliance with environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards likewise offers careers outside the traditional roles that dominate perceptions of mining being a tough, dirty and dangerous profession,’  he says, underlining the growing need for digital literacy and technology integration within the mining sector. Additionally, advanced engineering and geo-science  skills are needed for finding mineral deposits for mineral-driven technologies and the shift  to a low-carbon future. Ally says mining companies are also looking to recruit for health- and safety-related jobs as well as those addressing social and community aspects of mining, as part of their social licence to operate.

‘There are incredible entry points for youth in mining,’ says Mahlangu, who notes that mining careers don’t necessarily need to be linear or follow traditional pathways. In the vital field of exploration, she sees, for instance, opportunities for entrepreneurship – youth-led exploration start-ups – as well as careers in data science, geology and technology-driven surveying. ‘Moreover, the growing focus on ESG has opened doors for policy thinkers, sustainability consultants and safety specialists,’ she adds. ‘Mining companies are seeking fresh perspectives to rethink how operations can be safer, greener and more equitable. Young professionals equipped  with knowledge, digital skills and a mindset for innovation are exactly what the industry needs to thrive into the future.’

But there is still the issue of educating  and training the next generation for these professions. Mining companies in South Africa already spend about ZAR7 billion a year on HR development, including mandatory, operational and safety training as well as education and skills development, according to the MCSA. These companies offer a large number of bursary and internship programmes to youth in mining communities. ‘There are also specific drives in mining companies towards developing artisanal skills, which is important because not many youngsters want to pursue technical vocational skills,’ says Ally. ‘These skills are highly sought after, not only  in mining but across industries, providing young people with mobile skills and earning potential.’ The MCSA and its members also collaborate with the Mining Qualifications Authority and other organisations involved  in career advisory initiatives to encourage young people to join the mining industry.

While most large mining companies regularly exhibit at career expos and fairs, one of South Africa’s largest platinum producers has been bringing its own career expo directly to learners in mining communities in the North West province.

Since 2021, Impala Rustenburg’s mobile career expo has reached about 2 200 learners from 14 high schools per year.  By focusing on Grade 11, it aims to inspire learners in this important phase of their schooling to consider a mining-related career. Impala Rustenburg says its tech-driven expo immerses the learners in virtual reality tours of underground mines and interactive sessions that offer glimpses into different mining professions. In addition, Impala says the expo showcases the group’s youth empowerment initiatives, such as  ‘on-the-job training, graduate internships spanning various disciplines, specialised job category learnerships, cadet programmes aimed at cultivating essential mining skills, and robust enterprise and supplier development initiatives to support young entrepreneurs from local communities’.

Harmony Gold, Sibanye Stillwater  and Anglo American are also among the  large mining houses offering their own, comprehensive youth development programmes, ranging from graduate development, internships and bursaries to specialised training in mining communities.

Some of these tie in with government-led youth job creation initiatives, such as  the Youth Employment Service, which connects corporates with motivated, unemployed youth. Then there are also government schools like the Ekangala Engineering School of Specialisation in Mining that focus on preparing high school learners for mining-related jobs. However, there’s a dire need to consolidate these initiatives and integrate them into a well-considered approach, so they don’t compete with each other, says Ally. The goal must be a shared vision of addressing South Africa’s alarmingly high youth unemployment through the development of sustainable, portable, and future-ready skills.

By Silke Colquhoun
Images: Gallo/Getty Images, Flickr/Anglo American