THE entire South African mining industry needs to “look in a mirror” and take accountability for the sector, Anglo American CEO Mark Cutifani said at the Mining Lekgotla on Monday.
Mr Cutifani, who is also president of the Chamber of Mines, said the mining sector had faced a “tumultuous” year in 2012 and it remained the industry’s intention to “face with brutal honesty” what needed to be done to improve situations that had led to the unsettled sector.
“The Marikana tragedy was a stark reminder that we as an industry need to do more,” Mr Cutifani said at the second Mining Lekgotla, which draws together participants from labour, the government and the mining sector, as well as community and youth representatives.
The mining companies had looked in the mirror and taken full accountability for the state of the industry, Mr Cutifani said. “We ask our partners to also look in the mirror,” he said. “It remains our absolute intention to address the issues we have faced with brutal honesty and as a sector confronted with myriad challenges, we need to chart a path towards future growth and prosperity.