Department of Science, Technology and Innovation and its entities to participate in 2026 African Mining Indaba, 9 - 12 February
Published 09 February 2026
Mining, a key sector of South Africa's economy, has been hard hit during the past decade. Developing innovation capabilities is one way to drive productivity improvements in the sector and the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) aims to increase the contribution of the national system of innovation to growing an inclusive and sustainable mining sector.
Efforts to modernise the mining sector through science, technology and innovation include a focus on the digitalisation of mines and extending the life of mines. There is work on mining equipment to enhance rock cutting, rock breaking and rock handling at the stope face.
The DSTI together with its entities and partners, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Mining Council South Africa (involved at the Mandela Mining Precinct), the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) and the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) will exhibit technologies and capabilities developed to modernise the mining sector at the continent's largest investment mining event, the African Mining Indaba.
The African Mining Indaba will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 9 to 12 February 2026. The theme, "Stronger Together: Progress through Partnerships", highlights that the future success of mining in Africa depends on collaboration among a wide range of stakeholders, including mining companies, government entities, policy makers and communities.
The DSTI entities and projects will showcase research, development and innovation capabilities aimed at the modernisation of mining, and at safety and security in the mining sector.
The CSIR will display its learning factory, laser technologies and their applications in mines, enhanced safety through forensic engineering, hot isostatic press processes for stronger components, and the mechanical testing of components, among other things.
SANSA will exhibit products and services derived from satellite data that support and benefit decision-makers across the mining value chain.
The MMP will showcase how it is shaping the future of mining technology, systems, and people through strategic research, development, and innovation, while demonstrating thought leadership through active participation in talks, panels, and discussions.
Experts from DSTI-led partnerships will participate in various panel discussions, including on the power of driver simulation in mines, the digital evolution of blasting in mines, the challenge of aligning technology with the life of a mine, and collaborative innovation in haulage truck technology. The DSTI entities will also hold a session on harnessing collaborative partnerships to modernise the mining innovation ecosystem.
The African Mining Indaba is an arena for networking, fostering high-impact connections, and catalysing opportunities and dialogues. With its distinctive and expanding outlook on the African mining sector, this platform unites visionaries, pragmatists, media, innovators and stakeholders.
Members of the media are invited as follows:
Date: 9 to 12 February 2026 (Monday to Thursday)
Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre
RSVP and media enquiries as follows:
CSIR:
Phetolo Phatsibi: Media Practitioner
Email: pphatsibi@csir.co.za or 081 396 8871
Department of Science, Technology and Innovation
Zama Mthethwa
Email: @email
Technology Innovation Agency:
Kagiso Katanga
Email: @email
Follow us on social media:
X: @dstigovza; @CSIR.