South Africa’s mining industry is operating at a critical moment. As mines operate at greater depths, ageing infrastructure, skills shortages and growing pressure to improve safety, sustainability and productivity are forcing companies to rethink how they operate. In this environment, the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), and particularly artificial intelligence (AI), are no longer distant ambitions. They are already influencing how decisions are made, how risks are managed, and how value is created.
These are among the key findings of PwC and The Minerals Council of South Africa’s 2026 Fourth Industrial Revolution in Mining study, the third edition of this research. The study was developed through close collaboration between PwC and the Minerals Council, drawing on structured, anonymised interviews with mining CEOs, supported by focus group discussions with line management from a diverse range of mining operations. These engagements were further informed by industry meetings and strategy sessions convened by the Minerals Council during 2025.
What the ten insights tell us
Taken together, the insights point to an industry in transition. Mining leaders are pragmatic rather than idealistic, optimistic about the potential of technology, yet clear‑eyed about its constraints. They see AI as a powerful enabler, but only when leadership, skills, data, and change management move in step. The message is consistent: technology alone will not transform mining; people, culture and disciplined execution will.
