ESG
Our Mission
To empower South Africa’s future by transforming education and community development in mining regions - unlocking pathways for youth and women to participate in the economies of tomorrow. Rooted in Africa but global in outlook, our CSI initiatives turn opportunity into meaningful impact, building skills, confidence, and sustainable growth from the classroom to the community.
Our Projects & Impact
2026 Township® x Mining Indaba Impact: Sustainability in Action
As part of our commitment to sustainability and community impact, Mining Indaba partnered with Township® to create eco-friendly bags for Mining Indaba 2026.
Sustainable Materials:
- Strap: Natural cotton, locally sourced from Southern African countries.
- Inside: Recycled banner material from previous Mining Indaba events and conferences.
- Outside: Recycled PET felt made from plastic bottles collected across South Africa.
Supporting Communities:
- 4 cooperatives were engaged, employing 40 women.
- A total of 18,000 working hours were dedicated to the project.
- Every bag represents meaningful work and sustainable progress.
Donation of Leftover Collateral
After the event, our shipping partner loaded and delivered two full LDVs of leftover collateral to the Silverleaf Primary School, a local school in need. Alongside this, we were able to fill one skip with recyclable materials.
The school used the funds generated to purchase seeds and plant vegetables in their community garden — a sustainable initiative that continues to feed the children. Thanks to the donation, 750 children were fed from this single contribution.
Sustainable Feature Design
At Mining Indaba, we’re committed to reducing our environmental footprint through innovative and sustainable event design. We collaborated with Jane & Paul, a small independent company founded post-pandemic, to design a new sustainable range of exhibition infrastructure.
- Together, we developed a flat-pack, modular system that significantly lowers the carbon footprint associated with transport and packaging.
- The infrastructure is crafted from South African pine, a fast-growing, renewable, and sustainably sourced material.
- A CNC-cut joining mechanism was used to eliminate the need for screws, nails, or pins. This allows the units to be flat-packed, easily stored, and reused across multiple events.
Reusable Stage Development: 2023–2026
Our commitment to sustainability extends to the very heart of the event—the stages themselves.
- 2023: The main stage was constructed entirely from South African sustainable pine, setting a new standard for eco-conscious design.
- 2024: The main stage was slightly reduced in size, and unused materials were repurposed to build two additional stages.
- 2025: The structure was reused once again to create yet another stage, demonstrating our ongoing dedication to reduction, reuse, and responsible resource management.
- 2026: Previous stage sets are currently held in storage and as many elements as possible are being reused and repurposed for the launch of our new African inspired stages.
Each year, these designs showcase how thoughtful planning can drive environmental impact without compromising quality or experience.
The Nourish Our Children Programme (Ladles of Love)
The Nourish Our Children programme, which operates at the Masonwabe centre in Barcelona, Gugulethu, serves as a beacon of hope for the community. Following the event, Mining Indaba donated to Ladles of Love Nourish Our Children Programme, ensuring continued support for the school by providing nutritious meals to the children. The programme provides daily meals to children in need, ensuring they have access to essential nutrients for their growth and development. By educating both children and their families on proper nutrition, the Nourish Our Children programme aims to create a sustainable solution to food insecurity in the community.
In 2025, the Mining Indaba team partnered with Ladles of Love for the annual charity day event, actively supporting their programme by assisting with food preparation and other activities.
“Our partnership with the Hyve Group is more than a collaboration; it's a story of hope and transformation. When Hyve completed the new building for Masonwabe Early Childhood Centre in Gugulethu, one of our poorest communities, they didn't stop there. They chose to sponsor an entire year's nutritional program, ensuring these precious children would receive two nourishing meals daily. I'll never forget visiting Thandi, the Centre's Principal, to share this wonderful news. As I explained the food items they'd receive for the children and carers, her eyes welled up. She looked at me, her voice trembling with emotion, and said, "After eleven years of running this centre, this will be the first time I can serve our children vegetables." Those words struck my heart. No amount of money can match the value of such a profound impact and we're deeply grateful to the Hyve Group for walking this journey with us over the last two years, changing lives one meal at a time.”
Early Childhood Development (Breadline Africa)
At Mining Indaba, sustainability goes beyond environmental stewardship — it’s about investing in people, education, and opportunity. Through our partnership with Breadline Africa and Mining Indaba, we’re helping transform early childhood development (ECD) in underserved South African communities. Mining Indaba has funded the reconstruction of the Masonwabe Educare Centre in Gugulethu, Cape Town, creating a safe, hygienic, and inspiring learning environment for 76 children. In addition, a repurposed Mining Indaba container has been transformed into a Grade R classroom and community hub for Ubunye Educare in Dunoon.
Impact at a Glance
50,000+ meals supported through joint ECD and feeding programmes
4 ECD centres rebuilt with sustainable infrastructure and learning environments
200+ children to benefit from the Komati Just Energy Transition ECD
1 repurposed Mining Indaba unit transformed into a thriving classroom
100+ children enjoyed their first seaside educational outing
100s of lives transformed through access to safe learning spaces
Key milestones in 2025
- Supporting a Just Energy Transition through a new ECD hub for 200+ children affected by the Komati power station closure.
- A beacon of educational opportunity in a transitioning community.
“Every time we walk into a transformed ECD centre made possible through our partnership with Hyve Group, we witness hope taking root. These are more than buildings – they are safe, inspiring spaces where children can thrive.”
Supporting Kidz Positive
Kidz Positive serves as an income generation initiative, empowering mothers and caregivers of children impacted by HIV/AIDS to earn a livelihood. Workers collect raw materials weekly, either from home or at the local office in Cape Town, as shown in the images below. This year, Kidz Positive manufactured notebooks, pens, and ministerial folders for our delegates, essential tools for them to engage effectively in their roles.
“Every purchase made through our partnership with Mining Indaba contributes directly to Kidz Positive’s mission of empowering mothers and caregivers affected by HIV/AIDS. Through meaningful job creation, skills development, and income generation, each handmade product supports sustainable livelihoods and brings dignity and hope to the participating families. With the support of the last Mining Indaba order, we were able to invest in adult education — focusing specifically on how the mothers manage and spend their money — helping them build stronger financial habits and greater independence.”
2026 Agenda Sessions Supporting Cooperate Social Responsibility
Reflecting our commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility, the Mining Indaba 2026 themes of Communities and Indigenous People, Sustainability, and the Just Energy Transition closely align with our values. Explore the sessions on our agenda to learn more.
Why is coal not considered a critical mineral?
As the global conversation around critical minerals intensifies, driven by the energy transition, digitalisation, and geopolitical shifts, coal remains notably absent from most critical mineral lists. However, coal is vital to Africa’s development as a continent and is needed to generate energy in areas of the world that hold many critical mineral deposits. Does this not make it critical to the energy transition?
Speakers
Moderator
Shamini Harrington
Senior Executive: Environment, Health, Legacies and HR
Minerals Council South Africa
Is mining's ESG agenda losing momentum?
Are mining’s ESG priorities evolving or diluting? WHAT IF mining’s ESG priorities – decarbonisation, inclusion and diversity – could be strategically positioned as equally important to shifting business strategies, global geopolitics and commodity price fluctuation? Gain insights into what it takes to keep sustainability and equity at the heart of mining’s uncertain economic future.
Speakers
Is a circular economy just?
A circular economy is undoubtedly better for the planet by reducing pressure on new extraction, but can it be good for people too? How can we avoid it "kicking away the ladder" for development in producing countries if the world's demand for primary metal falls?
Speakers
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Moderator
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Can partnerships pave the way for Africa’s communities to benefit from Africa’s critical minerals?
Africa is currently at the centre of a geopolitical scramble for transition minerals. It creates a once in a lifetime opportunity for the growth of Africa’s communities through long term value addition and investment into communities and infrastructure… However, this outcome is far from certain. There is a reality where the riches of Africa’s critical minerals end up in the hands of a small group of people, many of which are outside of Africa, and communities never see true beneficiation. This session explores the transformative potential of strategic partnerships in ensuring that Africa’s communities derive meaningful and lasting benefits from the continent’s vast reserves of critical minerals
Speakers
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