Question NW2462 to the Minister of Mineral Resources
08 September 2017 - NW2462
Mokoena, Mr L to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources
(a) What is the total number of jobs that have been lost in the mining industry since 27 April 1994 and (b) how many of those jobs have been lost due to mechanisation and/or automation?
Reply:
(a) A total of 147 187 jobs have were lost by the first quarter (ending March) of 2017, from a total of 611 018 in 1994.
(b) The Department does not have those figures, but the impact of mechanisation on job losses has been very minimal. Most of the jobs were lost due to decline in ore grades, reduced prices resulting from weakened demand, all of which led to operations’ restructuring.
Approved/Not Approved
Mr MJ Zwane, MP
Minister of Mineral Resources
Date Submitted:-……………/………………/2017