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Mining automation could deepen inequality in South Africa
A review warns that mining automation in South Africa could deepen inequality without stronger oversight, retraining and workforce support.
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South Africa’s mining industry could see inequality worsen as it adopts Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, unless automation is paired with stronger governance and workforce support. That is the conclusion of a review published in the International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering.
The researchers examined peer-reviewed studies, industry material and policy reports, separating documented effects from speculation. They found that adoption of autonomous vehicles, drones, smart sensors and artificial intelligence is being held back by:
- High investment costs
- Shortages of specialist skills
- Regulatory uncertainty
- Resistance to organizational change
Digital systems can raise productivity, improve safety and provide real-time monitoring of equipment and hazards. But the review also identifies continuing risks, including job displacement among low- and semi-skilled workers, security threats to critical infrastructure, ethical concerns about AI-driven decisions and digital workplace surveillance.
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Smaller suppliers may also be pushed out if they cannot meet increasingly technology-intensive standards, potentially concentrating more value in larger companies and digital specialists.
The review calls for updated employment law, stronger oversight of automated systems, investment in worker retraining and measures to help local businesses participate in increasingly digital mining supply chains.
The study, “A review of the negative impact of adopting fourth industrial revolution technology in South Africa’s mining industry,” was written by T. Tingini et al. and published in 2026. DOI: 10.1504/ijmme.2026.154737.
Who is behind the study coverage?
Lisa Lock: BA in art history, MA in material culture. Former museum editor, paramedic and transplant coordinator. Editing for Science X since 2021.
Andrew Zinin: Master’s degree in physics with research experience and a long-standing interest in science news.
Citation: T. Tingini et al., International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering (2026).
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via TechXplore
