Department’s industry footprint runs deep

Posted on May 10, 2021

The Department of Mining Engineering in the University’s Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, which is celebrating its diamond jubilee in 2021, has played a significant role in developing the mining industry in South Africa through the delivery of experienced, well-qualified graduates. Its alumni have gone on to take up leading roles in mining houses nationally and internationally, and also serve as role models in the country’s foremost mining industry associations.

Within the country’s mining fraternity, the two leading industry associations are the Association of Mine Managers of South Africa (AMMSA) and the South African Colliery Managers’ Association (SACMA). Among AMMSA’s objects are to promote and uphold the advancement of the mining industry, to uphold the status of the mining profession and to protect its members’ interests. SACMA, on the other hand, endeavours to uphold the status of the coal-mining profession and to promote the sharing of best safe and operational practice between members, among other objectives. Both associations play an important role in ensuring knowledge transfer between current and future members.

Since its establishment in 1892 – and specifically in the last 20 years – AMMSA has appointed six of the Department’s alumni as President of the Association, while SACMA, which was established in 1979, has honoured eight of the Department’s alumni with this privilege in the last 20 years.

Alumni who have served as President of AMMSA include Gerhard Potgieter (2000), Peter Steenkamp (2003), Johan Ferreria (2011), Beyers Nel (2016), Willie Theron (2018) and the current President, Francois Janse van Rensburg (2021). Those who have served as President of SACMA include Charlie Ladds (1996), Wilco Uys (1998), Don Turvey (2001), Pierre Jordaan (2004), Tienie Bleeker (2005), Koos Janse van Vuuren (2007) and the current President, Rico van Staden (2021). The President of SACMA for 2022 has already been announced, and this position will also be filled by a former graduate of the Department, Nozipho Mashinini (the current Vice-President).

The Department’s alumni also play an important role in some of the more discipline-specific institutes related to mining engineering. These include the South African National Institute of Rock Engineering (SANIRE) and the Mine Ventilation Society of South Africa (MVSSA).

SANIRE was established in 1999 to promote the South African rock engineering profession and to represent and promote the interests of its members. Its first president was Dr Nielen van der Merwe, a former Head of Department in the University’s Department of Mining Engineering, who served in this capacity from 1999 to 2001. He was succeeded by seven alumni of the Department who served terms of office as President of SANIRE. These were Dr Martin Pretorius (deceased, 2001 to 2003), Prof Francois Malan (2003 to 2005), Dr Matthew Handley (2005 to 2007), Jacques Lucas (2009 to 2011), Dr Michael du Plessis (2015 to 2017), Jannie Maritz (2017 to 2019) and the current President, Paul Couto (since 2019). 

The MVSSA was established in 1944 to serve the interests of mine ventilation engineers in South Africa. Its past presidents have included Prof J de Villiers Lambrechts, a former Head of Department in the University’s Department of Mining Engineering, who served as President from 1954 to 1955. More recently, this position has been filled by Prof Jan du Plessis, a former staff member and alumnus of the Department, who served in this position from 2007 to 2008.

The University of Pretoria takes great pride in the recognition of its alumni for their skills and leadership qualities. According to Prof Ronny Webber-Youngman, Head of the Department of Mining Engineering, this is a clear testament to the recognition of the Department’s qualifications and its ability to make a difference both locally and globally.

#UPMiningMatters
#60YearsUPMining

- Author Janine Smit

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