2019 Mining Indaba kicks off in Cape Town, with Ramaphosa to speak on Tuesday

4 February 2019 2:00 PM

The 2019 Mining Indaba is currently underway at the Cape Town Convention Centre and will continue until Thursday.

This event sees the largest number of investors, mining executives and junior miners from all over the world coming together at this deal-making forum.

READ: Why two mining indabas are taking place at the same time

Cape Talk presenter Africa Melane, who is at the event, says Cape Town has been playing host to the Indaba for the last 25 years.

It is the biggest gathering of its kind and there are over 7000 delegates this year, 500 investors and analysts and I believe more than 200 mining companies coming to see what they can do as far as brokering trade and deals.
— Africa Melane, Presenter - Cape Talk

Over 37 mining ministers across the African continent are also here. I can confirm that president Cyril Ramaphosa will be speaking tomorrow at 3 o'clock in the afternoon and I believe that there are plans to stream that talk not only to delegates but to anyone who is interested.
— Africa Melane, Presenter - Cape Talk

Melane adds that two sitting presidents will be speaking on Tuesday, the president of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo will be speaking in the morning and Ramaphosa in the afternoon.

It is important for the president to be here as last year he made a big fuss about sending out convoys to all over the world to try and get foreign direct investment. And according to the Minister of Mineral Resources Gwede Mantashe, while mining only contributes between 7-8 % to the GDP nearly 40% of foreign direct investment comes from the industry.
— Africa Melane, Presenter - Cape Talk

He adds that Mantashe opened the Indaba and reflected on some of the challenges that the industry is facing.

Listen below to the full interview:

Written by: Matshepo Sehloho