Key findings: Report-20-01-02 - Mining industry, 2012

Income

The total income for the mining industry in 2012 was R407 857 million. The largest contributor to the total income was ‘mining of platinum group metal ore’ (R117 150 million or 29%), followed by ‘mining of coal and lignite’ (R96 097 million or 23%), ‘mining of iron ore’ (R68 061 million or 17%) and ‘mining of gold and uranium ore’ (R66 957 million or 16%).

Expenditure

The total expenditure for the mining industry in 2012 was R317 664 million. The largest expenditure item was ‘purchases’ (R105 067 million or 33%), followed by ‘salaries and wages’ (R69 872 million or 22%), ‘subcontractors paid’ (R24 728 million or 8%) and ‘depreciation’ (R19 288 million or 8%).

Employment

The total number of persons employed (mine employees, labour brokers’ employees, employees of subcontractors and capital employees) in the mining industry at the end of June 2012 was 535 457. ‘Mining of platinum group metal ore’ employed the largest number of persons (206 764 or 38%), followed by ‘mining of gold and uranium ore’ (144 084 or 27%), ‘mining of coal and lignite’ (91 605 or 17%) and ‘mining of iron ore’ (24 856 or 5%)

‘Mine employees’ amounted to the largest number (377 388 or 71%) of persons employed in the mining industry, followed by ‘employees of subcontractors’ (100 115 or 19%). ‘Labour brokers’ employees’ numbered 34 125 (or 6%) and ‘capital employees’ numbered 23 829 (or 4%).

The total number of employees hired by mines directly as at 30 June 2012 was 377 388. The proportion of female employees out of the total persons employed was 12%. The industry with the highest proportion of females employed was ‘other chemical and fertiliser minerals’ (40%).

Mineral sales

The total value of mineral sales for the mining industry in 2012 was R377 477 million. The largest contributor to the total was ‘coal’ (R90 785 million or 24%), followed by ‘platinum group metals’ (R88 370 million or 23%), ‘gold’ (R66 980 million or 18%) and ‘iron ore’ (R62 661 million or 17%)