20 Biggest Mining Companies In South Africa
South Africa’s mining sector plays a crucial role in the country’s economy, with some of the continent’s largest and most influential companies based there. These firms extract a variety of valuable resources such as gold, platinum, coal, and diamonds, helping to position the country as a global leader in mineral production. They contribute heavily to employment, exports, and infrastructure development, while also facing scrutiny over environmental impact and labor practices.
Anglo-American South Africa
Anglo American South Africa is part of Anglo American plc, a global mining company with significant operations in South Africa. Founded in 1917, it is one of the world's largest platinum producers and operates in various minerals including nickel, diamonds, coal, copper, and iron ore. Its South African offices are located in Marshalltown, Johannesburg.
BHP Billiton Energy Coal South Africa Ltd
BHP Billiton Energy Coal South Africa Ltd is part of the global BHP Group, one of the world's top producers of various minerals. Founded in 1851, the South African entity focuses on producing and exporting coal, owning collieries in the Mpumalanga and KwaZulu Natal provinces. The global group employed 80,000 workers.
Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto is a British-Australian multinational mining company operating in around 40 countries, including South Africa. Founded in 1873, the company deals in a diverse range of minerals such as aluminium, diamonds, bauxite, copper, uranium, coal, and iron ore. Rio Tinto International Holdings Limited had 45,000 workers in 2022.
Kumba Iron Ore Ltd
Kumba Iron Ore Ltd is a major South African company that explores and mines iron ore, selling it to the international market. Founded in 2005, it succeeded Kumba Resources after the spin-off of coal and heavy minerals operations. It is a subsidiary of Anglo American plc and headquartered in Gauteng.
Sibanye-Stillwater
Sibanye-Stillwater is a prominent South African mining company founded in 2012. It is a world leader in the production of gold, palladium, and platinum. The company mines and refines gold and expanded its portfolio by acquiring SFA Oxford, a metal market analytics company, in 2019. Its headquarters are in Westonaria, Gauteng.
Wesizwe Platinum
Wesizwe Platinum is a South African company founded in 2003 that explores and develops mineral properties, focusing on platinum group metals (PGMs). The company produces PGMs at its Bakubung platinum mine near Rustenburg in the Northwest Province. Its headquarters are in Johannesburg.
Northam Platinum
Northam Platinum Holdings Ltd is a leading South African mining company specializing in platinum-group metals (PGMs). Founded in 2020 (as a holding company), it owns three PGM mines: Zondereinde, Booysendal, and Eland. The company also operates a steelmaking plant and is known for its innovative approach in the industry. Its headquarters are in Johannesburg.
African Rainbow Minerals
African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) is a South African mining company founded by Patrice Motsepe in 2003. It has interests in a diverse range of minerals including iron, platinum group metals, coal, gold, and copper. ARM is a significant employer with around 24,016 employees, including contractors, and is headquartered in Sandton, Gauteng.
Palabora Mining Company Ltd
Palabora Mining Company Ltd, located in Phalaborwa, Limpopo province, was founded in 1956. The company primarily mines, extracts, and sells refined copper. It also produces various by-products, including anode slimes, sulfuric acid, magnetite, uranium concentrates, and nickel sulphate. Palabora Mining produces around 45,000 tonnes of copper annually.
Kimberley Ekapa Mining Joint Venture
Kimberley Ekapa Mining Joint Venture (KEM JV) was formed in July 2016 by Petra and Ekapa Mining. The company specializes in mining diamonds at the historic Kimberley Underground mine, which includes the Dutoitspan, Bultfontein, and Wesselton kimberlite pipes. KEM JV is known for producing fancy yellow diamonds and has recovered very large diamonds.
Cronimet Chrome Mining SA Pty. Ltd
Cronimet Chrome Mining SA Pty. Ltd has been mining chromite ore at the Thaba CRONIMET Chrome-Platinum Mine (Thaba Mine) since 2011. The company also processes the chromite ore into ferrochrome and trades it globally. Headquartered in Poplar Noordwyk Midrand, Gauteng, Cronimet Chrome Mining SA employs around 200 people and utilizes cutting-edge technology.
Hluma Minerals
Hluma Minerals is a mining company headquartered in Sandton, Gauteng, with operations in South Africa (Northwest Province and Northern Cape) and across Africa. The company is involved in processing and trading various minerals, including chrome, copper, manganese, iron, and gold.
African Exploration Mining and Finance Corporation
African Exploration Mining and Finance Corporation (AEMFC) is a state-owned mining company in South Africa, a subsidiary of the Central Energy Fund. Headquartered in Johannesburg, it is a significant mining entity, particularly in Mpumalanga. AEMFC launched a coal mining project in Mpumalanga in 2011 with the aim of producing 1.68 million tons of coal annually.
AngloGold Ashanti Limited
AngloGold Ashanti Limited is one of the world's largest gold mining companies, formed in 2004 through the merger of AngloGold and Ashanti Goldfields Corporation. Headquartered in Johannesburg, the company has extensive operations with 21 sites across four continents.
Gold Fields
Gold Fields is a major gold mining company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, founded in 1998. The company operates gold mines in multiple countries, including one in South Africa, two in Ghana, four in Australia, and one in Peru. Gold Fields employed 17,611 people in 2018.
Zambezi Platinum
Zambezi Platinum is a South African company founded in 2015, focused on the exploration and development of platinum group metals (PGMs). The company's primary focus is the Mphahlele platinum group metals project located in the Limpopo province.
Harmony Gold
Harmony Gold is the largest gold mining company in South Africa, founded in 1950. The company operates extensively in South Africa with nine underground mines, one open-pit mine, and several surface operations. Harmony Gold also has operations in Papua New Guinea. Its headquarters are in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg.
Hotazel Manganese Mines (pty) Ltd
Hotazel Manganese Mines (Pty) Ltd (HMM) is a manganese mining company located in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, founded in 2007. It is a joint venture with ownership split between South32, Anglo American Plc, and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment entities. HMM operates two mines: the Wessels high-grade underground mine and the Mamatwan medium grade open-pit mine.
JCI Limited
JCI Limited (Johannesburg Consolidated Investment Co. Ltd) is a historic South African diversified mining company founded in 1889 by Barney Barnato. Headquartered in Johannesburg, JCI focuses primarily on chrome, platinum group metals (PGMs), and manganese mining. It is a significant mining entity with operations in South Africa and other African countries.
Mmakau Mining
Mmakau Mining is a pioneering South African mining enterprise founded in the 1980s. Headquartered in Gauteng, the company holds valuable assets in and offers services for platinum, gold, uranium, coal, and chrome. Mmakau Mining has grown to become one of Africa's prominent mining entities, developing its own mines since the early 1990s.