Ignorance isn't bliss in SA mining sector
A mining journalism workshop where the MD of a privately owned mining company, an award-winning investigative journalist and the Deputy President of the National Union of Mine Workers all get podium time; is bound to be an interesting one. That is exactly what the annual Menar Mining Journalism Training workshop turned out to be.
Menar Managing Director, Vuslat Bayoglu, recalled an incident with a journalist that led him to establish the training program. Mr Bayoglu felt ambushed after accepting a request for an on-camera interview. What he expected to be an opportunity for positive publicity for a new mine, turned out to be a hostile interview by an environmental journalist. Whilst still deciding whether to fight or flee, an ill-informed question posed to him made him realize he would be able to control the interview. “I could deal with her because she was ignorant,” Mr Bayoglu said. In mining ignorance certainly isn’t bliss. It’s a national competency that has trickled down to every grassroots community, affecting lives and livelihood. It also revolves around money, and lots of it.
Information is key and Menar made sure attendees got their fair share of it. The training was no one-sided public relations exercise but rather a boiling pot where contrasting views by respected speakers highlighted the complexities of the local mining industry. Peter Major, Director of Mining at Mergence Corporate Solutions, painted a bleak picture of how investors currently see the mining sector. Bongani Motsa of the Minerals Council of South Africa spoke along the same lines.
Other speakers were Dr Salimah Valiani, an independent researcher, Jonathan Veeran, a specialist mining lawyer with Webber Wentzel, journalist Sikonathi Mantshantsha and National Union of Mine Workers Deputy President, Phillip Vilakazi.
Phillip Vilakazi of the NUM during his spirited presentation at the Menar Mining Journalism Training workshop.
The training was concluded with a visit to Khanye Coal near Bronkhorstspruit, where trainees were allowed a rare look at the inner most workings of a coal mine.
Workshop trainees listen intently as the inner workings of the Khanye processing plant are explained
by Jana Boshoff
