Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) has emerged as a major focus of discussions at the Investing in African Mining Indaba 2026, as global stakeholders called for stronger efforts to integrate millions of small-scale miners into the formal economy.
Delegates at the conference heard that ASM remains a critical pillar of the global minerals sector, employing an estimated 45 million people directly worldwide, with over 300 million people benefiting indirectly from the industry.
However, a key challenge confronting the sector is how to ensure artisanal miners operate within legal and regulatory frameworks, while improving safety, environmental standards and access to markets.
Speaking during a special session on formalisation, Ntokozo Nzimande, Deputy Director-General for Mining and Petroleum Policy Development at South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, shared a personal account of her early exposure to artisanal mining.
She recounted growing up in Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal, where local women mined coal from open pits to support their livelihoods.
“Artisanal mining is not academic to me. It’s a lived reality,” she said, stressing that the sector should not be equated with illegal mining but rather recognised as a legitimate economic activity requiring structured support.
Ms Nzimande acknowledged that South Africa had been slow in regulating ASM but noted that recent amendments to the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, together with the introduction of a new Artisanal Mining Licensing System, now allow small-scale miners to acquire permits for defined mining areas on renewable terms.
She explained that the goal is to regularise the sector and create clear pathways for artisanal miners to graduate into junior mining operations.
From a regional perspective, Popol Mabolia Yenga, Managing Director of the Mining Cadastre in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), said formalisation became necessary after the collapse of the country’s state-owned mining company.
According to him, the DRC government responded by establishing official artisanal mining zones and encouraging miners to form cooperatives that could market minerals internationally under traceability systems.
He noted that formalisation has enabled artisanal miners in the DRC to access financial services, insurance and pension schemes, significantly improving their livelihoods.
Private sector participants also shared success stories. Norman Mukwakwami, Global Head of Responsible Sourcing for metals at Trafigura, cited a partnership between Trafigura, Chemaf and a miners’ collective at the Mutoshi mine in Kolwezi, DRC, which has enabled the safe and responsible supply of cobalt to international markets.
He said connecting artisanal miners to global supply chains requires strong regional cooperation and clearer export frameworks.
Legal experts at the forum stressed that formalisation must go beyond issuing permits, and include broader legal and policy reforms that address environmental, health, safety and gender issues across the ASM value chain.
Delegates further emphasised the need for secure tenure and mechanisms that allow artisanal miners to transition from subsistence activities into sustainable small-scale and junior mining enterprises.
The Mining Indaba session concluded with calls for stronger collaboration between governments, large mining companies and artisanal miners to ensure that the sector delivers inclusive growth, sustainable development and shared prosperity across Africa.
