The Mandela Mining Precinct is a public private partnership between the between the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and Minerals Council South Africa, co-hosted by the Minerals Council and the CSIR. It is an initiative aimed at revitalising mining research, development and innovation in South Africa to ensure the sustainability of the industry. Mandated to facilitate and coordinate the implementation of the South African Mining Extraction Research Development I (SAMERDI) strategy and associated strategic initiatives in the minerals sector.
The SAMERDI Research Programmes:
The strategic journey for the Mandela Mining Precinct is aligned to the National Development Plan; Economic Transformation and Inclusive Growth and Competitiveness; the African Mining Vision; the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) STI white paper; the recent Medium Term Development Plan, and the Department of Mineral Resources and other stakeholders who committed to a 2030 Mining Leadership Compact.
Sound governance of the MMP, as a public-private-partnership, is vital to ensure that RDI is completed in accordance with all relevant ethical and legal requirements, as well as driving inclusive and robust decision-making.
The SAMERDI Steering Committee functions as our advisory board, with representatives from relevant government departments, the MMP co-hosts and funders, with one independent member. Our Executive Committee is the highest decision-making entity in the MMP, with members comprising our co-hosts and primary funders (DSTI and Minerals Council South Africa).
Our Management Committee comprises technical, accounting, communications and operational management, who are responsible for the day-to-day operating of the MMP. Working via a hub-and-spoke model with our collaborators, the MMP facilitates and coordinates research and innovation by channelling the funding for RDI, managing the RDI process to discover and augment technological advances, ensure that all modernisation efforts are people-centred, as well as grow capacity and capabilities for mining RDI in South Africa.
Prioritising local development with a strong national identity, the MMP equally collaborates across borders, through engagement with international entities including for example the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM).
Through robust governance structures and processes, we aim to bring together all interested and affected parties that have a stake in the modernisation path of our mining sector, remaining as far as feasible objective and neutral, to enhance access to information and RDI outputs.
As a tribute to the former President of the Republic of South Africa, in the centenary of his birth in 2018, the Mandela Mining Precinct obtained approval from the Nelson Mandela Foundation to use the former president’s name. The Mandela Mining Precinct was thus launched on 14 September 2018, and the name is aligned to his legacy of bringing people together to work on challenges. In the case of this partnership, the focus is on working collaboratively towards solving the challenges facing the mining industry.
The hardhat is the recognised symbol for the mining industry, where the gold mining industry is represented by yellow. The blue, green and red icons represent hands being lifted in support of the industry. The colours are also representative of the South African flag, affirming that this facility is a proudly South African initiative.
Julie is the Director of the Mandela Mining Precinct, representing the DSI in the Public-Private Partnership.
Expertise
Environmental Scientist, risk management, communication, ethics, governance, project management, leadership, and personal development.
Description
Julie is a seasoned environmental scientist, her journey in the minerals sector commenced in the late 1980s during her tenure as a geology student. Her hands-on operational experience, coupled with her advocacy work with the former Chamber of Mines of South Africa, has uniquely equipped her to lead the MMP toward new horizons. Notably, Julie’s most recent corporate role was as the Sustainable Development Operations Manager for Anglo American plc.
In 2018, Julie served as the MMP Successful Application of Technologies Centred Around People Programme Manager and was also more recently involved in the establishment of the South African Mining Extraction Research, Development and Innovation Research Centres at the Universities of Witwatersrand and Johannesburg.
In addition to engaging at regional and international levels within policy structures such as the Southern Africa Development Community and the United Nations, Julie has also served as an independent consultant, qualified coach, adult learning facilitator, and researcher for the past 16 years.
As the Programme Manager: Successful Applications of Technology Centred Around People (SATCAP), Sherin is responsible for leading research on understanding the effects and impacts of mining modernisation on people.
Learning and Development
sramparsad@mandelaminingprecinct.org.za
Sherin holds a Doctorate Degree in Education Management, with various other professional qualifications in her field, and is a registered Master Learning and Development specialist.
She is passionate about sustaining the mining sector through growing and developing leaders in mining, and in her own time, is a GIBS Associate – an MBA supervisor, coach and examiner for the Gordan Institute of Business Science, and is a visiting Adjunct Professor for the Wits Mining Institute, at the University of Witwatersrand.
As the Programme Manager for Real-Time Information Management Systems in the South African Mining, Extraction Research, Development and Innovation strategy, at the Mandela Mining Precinct, is responsible for research, development, and innovation for the Industrial Internet of Things and Smart Connected Systems, for the Mining Industry
ICT, Digitalisation, Business Sustainability, Project Management
The Programme Manager for Real-Time Information Management Systems is responsible for research, development, and innovation for the Industrial Internet of Things and Smart Connected Systems, for the Mining Industry
As the programme Manager for the Advanced Orebody Programme in the South African Mining, Extraction Research, Development and Innovation strategy, at the Mandela Mining Precinct, Michelle is interested in developing technologies to create the ultimate glass rock environment.
Geology, rock engineering, geochemistry
mpienaar@mandelaminingprecinct.org.za
Michelle holds a BSc. Honours in Geology from the University of Johannesburg. She has over 17 years’ experience within the mining industry where she started her career as a mine geologist but later progressed to a Geoscience Manager on numerous deep level gold operations.
Martin’s interests are in modernised mining systems, to optimise current mining practices in creating new innovation and supporting systems to enhance novel mining methods.
Mining engineering, business optimisation, strategic planning.
mpretorius@mandelaminingprecinct.org.za
As the programme manager responsible for the Longevity of Current Mines research programme, Martin is interested in modernised mining systems.
Project Management
Thato holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification among other qualifications. She has over 15 years of working experience in the Mining and Minerals sector. Her interests lie in Project Management and Business Process Improvement. Previously, she worked as a Metallurgical Technician managing minerals processing projects at a South African state owned metallurgical research and development organisation.
As the Communications Manager, Ntombenkosi is responsible for overseeing all Mandela Mining Precinct internal and external Communications as well as promoting the organisation’s vision, mission, strategy and values.
Expertise
Marketing and Communications
Description
Ntombenkosi has over ten years’ experience in strategic communications and specialises in science communication.
As the Projects Administrator, Tshepo works closely with the Programme Managers to ensure all project deliverables including administrative requirements are met.
Project Management, Administration, Research
Tshepo holds a Master of Urban Studies, Urban Politics and Governance degree from the University of the Witwatersrand. He is a registered Candidate Planner with SACPLAN. Tshepo is passionate about research, development and innovation. His interests are people in mining, mining technologies, governance, project management, public policy analysis, spatial planning, and policy formulation.
Yanga Mnyamana is a Project Administrator at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), supporting the Longevity of Current Mines (LoCM) and Mechanised Mining Systems (MMS) programmes. She brings strong expertise in project coordination, stakeholder engagement, and data management, with proficiency in ArcGIS, QGIS, and Microsoft Office 365.
With a background in environmental governance and spatial planning, Yanga previously served at the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment and the Department of Social Development, where she advanced community-based environmental programmes and GIS policy development
As the Programme Manager: Successful Applications of Technology Centred Around People (SATCAP), Sherin is responsible for leading research on understanding the effects and impacts of mining modernisation on people.
Expertise
Learning and Development
sramparsad@mandelaminingprecinct.org.za
Description
Sherin holds a Doctorate Degree in Education Management, with various other professional qualifications in her field, and is a registered Master Learning and Development specialist.
She is passionate about sustaining the mining sector through growing and developing leaders in mining, and in her own time, is a GIBS Associate – an MBA supervisor, coach and examiner for the Gordan Institute of Business Science, and is a visiting Adjunct Professor for the Wits Mining Institute, at the University of Witwatersrand.
As a Project Administrator at the Nelson Mandela Mining Precinct, Kgotso works closely with programme and project managers to coordinate project activities, manage research data, and ensure that all deliverables and administrative requirements are met.
Project Management, Research & Data Analysis, Stakeholder Engagement
Kgotso holds an Advanced Diploma in Project Management from Tshwane University of Technology. He has over six years of experience supporting research-intensive projects and specializes in data-driven coordination, stakeholder communication, and performance reporting. His core interests lie in strengthening South Africa’s innovation ecosystem—particularly in advancing sustainable, technology-enabled solutions in the mining sector. Kgotso is passionate about the integration of research, data insights, and operational excellence to support modern mining and industrial development.
