News

Journal - ECSA, GDID, and UJ sign a Memorandum of Agreement

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Created: Thursday, 11 December 2014 23:40

The Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (GDID), and the University of Johannesburg (UJ), have entered into a memorandum of understanding aimed at supporting and coaching engineering students at UJ who are recipients of the GDID bursaries. This tripartite initiative follows GDID’s recognition of the need to mentor first- and second-year students, the majority of whom fail to complete their qualifications as they are unprepared for the level of academic commitment required when studying engineering. This has been linked back to the need for stronger life-skills support, and ECSA, as the custodian of the engineering profession in South Africa, has designed the pilot model for the support of students in partnership with both the GDID and UJ.

Journal - Committed to caring enough to make a difference

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Created: Thursday, 11 December 2014 23:29

The University of the Witwatersrand - The University of the Witwatersrand has received a R12. 5 million donation from Sibanye Gold Limited towards mining and engineering education.

At a handover ceremony held on 25 July 2014 at the Sibanye Gold Academy on the West Rand, Professor Beatrys Lacquet, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Knowledge, Information and Management at the University of the Witwatersrand, received the donation on behalf of the University from Sibanye Gold Chief Executive Officer Neal Froneman. Said Lacquet: ‘This generous donation provides the opportunity for Wits to offer additional student support with respect to needy and deserving students. It will also enable us to further progress our Digital Mine Research Project, while also affording us the much-needed funds to extend the laboratory facilities in the Richard Ward building for the chemical and metallurgical engineering students.’

Mineral Projects – A New Paradigm

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Created: Tuesday, 18 November 2014 00:19

Johannesburg Branch – Technical Presentation

Case of Kamoto Copper Company

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Created: Monday, 17 November 2014 23:57

Management of a mining complexe with a mixture of ores (oxyde, mixed and sulphide ores) from mining to processing-Case of Kamoto Copper Company SAIMM DRC Branch Event

SANCOT News - SANCOT and the International Tunnelling Association (ITA)

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Created: Monday, 06 October 2014 18:25

The South African National Committee on Tunnelling (SANCOT) was formed in 1973 during a phase of extensive infrastructure development in South Africa, in particular the construction of the Orange-Fish tunnel. This followed the success of the 1970 TUNCON conference in Durban, after which it was decided that it would be useful to form a body covering the interests of owners, designers, contractors, researchers, and suppliers in the underground construction industry. SANCOT has been active since this time, promoting the use of underground space, exchanging information, and arranging conferences and seminars.

SANCOT News - Advancement in Vertical Tunnelling in Mining

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Created: Monday, 25 August 2014 10:11

Design and construction of vertical tunnels, more commonly referred to as shaft sinking, continues to rely on particular methodologies that are selected in response to a combination of site requirements, cost models, and available technology. Industry best practice in horizontal tunnelling is well researched and documented; however, changing demands for efficient, quick, and correctly risk-managed shaft sinking projects have revealed the need for similar documented best practice in vertical tunnelling.

Are Efforts to Mechanise SA Mines too Focused on Machinery Rather than Technology?

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Created: Thursday, 21 August 2014 09:53

Presidential Address: SAIMM AGM
Date: 13th August 2014
By: Prof Jim Porter

Introduction: Challenge and Oportunity

• According to Statistics South Africa (SA) the current unemployment rate is 25.5% of the workforce
• This includes 10 million people subject to high levels of poverty
• SA is currently number two on the world's Geni index that measures the disparity between high and low income earners.

BUT

• The Chamber of Mines' South African Year Book, 2012/13: The value of SA's total metal and mineral reserves "remain some of the world's most valuable, with an estimated worth of R20.5 trillion ($2.5 trillion)".

Download the full Presidential address here (PDF, 1.2MB)

SANCOT News - Report back on the ITA 2014 General Assembly Fortieth Annual Meeting held at Iguassu Falls, Brazil

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Created: Thursday, 14 August 2014 09:45

The International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA) held its fortieth annual meeting in Iguassu Falls, Brazil, from 9 to 14 May 2014, in conjunction with the World Tunnel Congress 2014 ‘Tunnels for a Better Life’, organized by the ITA and the Brazilian Tunnelling Committee. More than 1500 persons participated in the conference. The Association registered 12 new Affiliate Members in the preceding year, which resulted in a total of 71 Member Nations and 285 Affiliate Members (taking into account some resignations). Fifty-two of the 71 Member Nations either participated or were represented in the General Assembly. Ron Tluczek, Chairperson of SANCOT, represented South Africa on behalf of the SANCOT Committee.

Professional registration with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA)

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Created: Thursday, 14 August 2014 09:40

Grow your business by getting more of your engineering staff professionally registered
The wheels of service delivery and the broader economy demand not just more engineering graduates, but more registered engineering professionals, able to take responsibility and make decisions independently, while ensuring the highest level of quality and safety. It is for this reason that organizations need to work towards developing all engineering staff towards professional registration with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).

Obituary - Lynne Wilson Pearson van den Bosch

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Created: Thursday, 14 August 2014 09:38

Lynne van den Bosch, one of this country’s most distinguished mining engineers, lived a full, productive and happy life. He died peacefully at his home in the retirement village of Highbrook, Lonehill on 3 June 2014 at the fine age of 93.

Lynne was the third of four children and the only son. He was born in Senekal in the Free State in 1921 to Eelco and Kate (nee Spilsbury) van den Bosch. His father was a bank manager in various towns, including Kestell and Frankfort, finishing his career in Heidelburg where Lynne completed his schooling. He was justifiably proud of being the first member of his immediate family to attend university. He graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand in 1942 with a degree in mining engineering.