ABOUT US
The Chamber of Mines certificates were introduced to standardize stand-alone in-house qualifications for persons working in the mining industry.
The first certificates were issued to the Ventilation Department in 1949 followed by Radiation in 1991.
The other departments followed suit much later; the Survey and Sampling Departments issued their first certificates in 1984 and the Survey Draughting in 1986, the Strata Control and Rock Engineering issued their first certificates in 1989.
The Chamber of Mines also offered the following certificates, but due to the lack of demand these were phased out:
- Maintenance of flameproof equipment – collieries 1969 – 1974;
- Advanced Industrial Engineering 1986 – 1990 and;
- Asbestos monitoring 1994 – 1998.
The Function of the Minerals Council is to monitor the examination process at the venues and to administer the registration of candidates and the results of the examinations. The relevant certificates are issued to the successful candidates by the Minerals Council.
The promotional route of a candidate depends on him or her obtaining the qualification required for the position in question.
The Ventilation and Rock Engineering qualifications is a requirement by regulations for any person to be appointed in a senior position.
Once the QCTO qualifications are ready and the regulations pertaining to the Ventilation and Rock Engineering occupations have been amended, then the Chamber of Mines certificates will be phased out.
Until then the three professional bodies remain the custodians of the relevant certificates, namely IMSSA, MVSSA and SANIRE.
PURPOSE
A key role of the organisation is to facilitate interaction among mining employers to examine policy issues and other matters of mutual concern to crystalise and define desirable industry standpoints. A variety of initiatives are in place to promote collaboration between members. Consultation and collaboration are voluntary and never encroach on the autonomy of members.
The Minerals Council also acts as a principal advocate for mining in South Africa to government, communicating major policies endorsed by its members.
VISION
The Minerals Council’s vision is to reposition the South African mining sector as South Africa’s foremost industrial sector.
The Minerals Council seeks to create, in partnership with key stakeholders, a conducive policy, legislative and operating environment that facilitates doubling real investment in mining by 2030.
This is an industry strategy, and the Minerals Council is a respected mining advocacy organisation that works through trust-based, problem-solving partnerships to engineer this positive turnaround in the mining industry.
Achieving this vision will be a game changer for the country and its ability to achieve the National Development Plan (NDP) objectives to improve South Africa’s economic growth, developmental and transformation vision as outlined in the NDP.
