MINING INDABA •
Supplied by MEMSA and SAMPEC
STRONGER TOGETHER: INDUSTRY-DRIVEN COLLABORATION FOR A SUSTAINABLE, COMPETITIVE MINING EQUIPMENT SUPPLY CHAIN
Contributed by MEMSA, SAMPEC and MMP
In an era defined by energy transition, digitalisation and rising ESG expectations, the mining sector must embrace the truth behind the 2026 Mining Indaba theme:“ Stronger Together: Progress Through Partnerships”. Nowhere is this more evident than in South Africa’ s mining equipment manufacturing and mineral-processing equipment industries, where industry-led clusters Mining Equipment Manufacturers of SA( MEMSA) and SA Minerals Processing Equipment Cluster( SAMPEC) are forging vital partnerships among manufacturers, miners, government, research institutions and communities.
“ The mining and minerals-processing sector of South Africa stands at a crossroads, to remain a raw-material exporter or beneficiate. But beneficiation has proven to be unviable for South Africa, despite huge effort and investment. Instead, we must build a capital-goods and component-manufacturing capability that delivers value, reduces supply chain risk to the mines, creates jobs and boosts export growth and industrial localisation. Achieving the latter requires more than individual companies going it alone. It demands networks and collaboration of key stakeholders, aligned incentives, technology transfer, skills development and a supply-chain development mindset,” says Freddy Mugeri, founding member of MEMSA and newly appointed HPE CEO. The success of South Africa’ s equipment manufacturers depends on strong connections with local mining operators, component suppliers, R & D organisations, policymakers, financiers and export markets. The“ Stronger Together” message captures this reality, progress in mining manufacturing happens through partnerships, not competition.
Now entering its tenth year, MEMSA was established as a non-profit cluster with support from the Department of Trade, Industry and
Competition( dtic). Its vision is to position South African mining capital goods, components, and products as cost-competitive, innovative, and transformative – the preferred choice locally and globally.
While MEMSA focuses on capital equipment for mining operations, SAMPEC launched in 2014 under the South African Capital Equipment Export Council( SACEEC) targets the downstream mineral-processing equipment and broader value chain, from EPCM companies to logistics providers.
SAMPEC is a strong advocator for local procurement, industrial incentives and skills alignment to sustain growth and job creation in the sector. Through collective R & D, best-practice sharing, and pooled resources, SAMPEC strengthens the competitiveness of South African firms globally.
The cluster model is deliberate; both MEMSA and SAMPEC’ s shared ethos of collaboration, co-creation and co-opetition recognises that members are stronger when they network, share knowledge and co-ordinate efforts. It is against this backdrop that both clusters work closely with the Mandela Mining Precinct( MMP) to facilitate local technology development and production.
The MMP drives research, development and innovation( RDI) and facilitates mining modernisation efforts for the local mining industry in line with the South African Mining Extraction RDI( SAMERDI) strategy to ensure the sustainability of the industry, while the clusters focus on commercial and industrial outcomes; strengthening manufacturing capacity, reducing total cost of ownership for local mines, opening export markets and supporting re-industrialisation.
www. africanmining. co. za African Mining Publication African Mining African Mining • January 2026 • 39