The impact of South Africa’s mining industry extends deeply into the economy and society, contributing R470 billion to household income and supporting millions of livelihoods through well-paid jobs. Beyond its direct employees and their families, the sector benefits host communities, investors, and a wide network of local suppliers and service providers whose sustainability depends on mining’s continued growth.
The Minerals Council South Africa’s latest #MiningMatters 2025 report, the second edition of its fact-based and independent study on the sector’s broad economic footprint, highlights the mining industry’s crucial role in driving national prosperity. The study demonstrates that mining continues to underpin thousands of businesses and millions of people across the country.
In 2024, local mineral sales totaling R248 billion supported additional employment and reinforced the industrial backbone of the economy. “#MiningMatters shows why it is critical for the economy and employment that the regulatory and operating environment for the mining industry are optimized to attract and sustain investments in exploration, new mine development, and existing operations,” the Minerals Council said. “Doing so will unlock the untapped potential mining has to contribute more to the fiscus, society, and investors.”
Minerals Council South Africa CEO Mzila Mthenjane said the country stands at a pivotal moment, with a rich mineral endowment that provides an opportunity to uplift the performance of the industry and shape the economy’s trajectory in unprecedented ways.
According to the Council, in 2024 mining companies paid R195 billion in wages and salaries, accounting for 5 percent of all wages paid in South Africa. For 473,484 employees and their families, this income supported nearly 1.9 million people, based on an average household size of four.
“Considering just the direct suppliers of goods and services to the mining industry, more than 400,000 people are employed. Combined with mining jobs, this delivers a total direct formal employment impact of about 874,000, supporting at least 3.5 million people,” the Council said.
The sector’s contribution of R470 billion to household income represented 7 percent of South Africa’s total household income, according to data compiled by Quantec for the #MiningMatters report. When including the household income of the sector’s direct suppliers, the total rises to R680 billion.
In 2024, for every R10 million in output by the mining sector, R6.3 million in household income was generated through mining operations and their direct suppliers. Mining companies and the broader value chain, including taxes on employee wages, contributed a total of R342 billion to the national fiscus.
Domestic mineral sales also reached a record R248 billion as the structure of local demand diversified. Coal remained the largest component, generating R135 billion, or 54 percent of total sales. Eskom continues to rely on coal for more than 80 percent of South Africa’s electricity generation, while Sasol converts coal into liquid fuels such as diesel and petrol, making it a critical input for the country’s transport and industrial sectors.
