The beauty of underground mines in Africa Who says underground mining is not beautiful? By Leon Louw for the WhyAfrica magazine. Deep within the Namaqualand Metamorphic Complex in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, nature paints with broad strokes. Painters in the late Renaissance and Baroque periods starting using broad strokes to emphasise and […]
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Orion’s Prieska mine a step closer to operational Glencore and Orion have signed a landmark off-take agreement at the Prieska project. By Leon Louw for the WhyAfrica magazine. Glencore has given the green light for development at Orion Minerals’ Prieska Copper and Zinc Mine (PCZM) in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. The long-awaited
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South Africa’s REE boost South Africa’s Rare Earth Element (REE) portfolio is growing while global demand for REEs is at an all-time high. By Leon Louw for the WhyAfrica magazine The news that Luxemburg based Frontier Rare Earths has received funding of more that USD20-million from the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) comes at a time
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A snapshot of modern African development The Aussenkehr farming area in Namibia is in one of the harshest corners of southern Africa. By Leon Louw for WhyAfrica From the air it looks surreal: a green belt within a moonscape of rock and sand. On the ground it is one of Namibia’s most productive agricultural zones.
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Has the Dingleton dust settled? What does the SARS and Kumba Iron Ore case earlier this year mean for a mine’s social licence to operate? By Nicola Theunissen for WhyAfrica When WhyAfrica visited the town of Kathu in the Northern Cape in late August as part of the 2025 WhyAfrica Road Trip, we spent some
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What if the river runs dry? This year we took the backroads of South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho and southern Namibia By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and editor of the WhyAfrica magazine. During the 2025 WhyAfrica Road Trip we focussed on southern Africa’s full complement of natural resources, including minerals, soil, water, energy, sun, wind,
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Gearing up at Steenkampskraal Work at the Steenkampskraal Monazite Mine in the Western Cape is forging ahead. By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and editor of the WhyAfrica magazine. It takes almost 1000 steps to the bottom of the shaft at the Steenkampskraal Monazite Mine (SMM) close to Vanrhynsdorp in the Western Cape. To
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Vedanta pushes zinc boundaries Vedanta is upping the ante at their zinc complex in South Africa and Namibia. By Leon Louw, founder of WhyAfrica and editor of the WhyAfrica magazine. There is a lot happening at Vedanta’s zinc complex in the Northern Cape and southern Namibia. When WhyAfrica visited Gamsberg and Black Mountain
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South Africa is an attractive investment destination Despite challenges South Africa still offers an enticing investment environment. By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and editor of the WhyAfrica magazine. One can never dismiss the serious challenges faced by South Africa. We are all aware of them. We are confronted with them every day when we
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WhyAfrica visits 8 of SA’s top national parks during the 2025 WhyAfrica Road Trip South Africa’s biodiversity is a critical natural resource. By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and editor of the WhyAfrica magazine Its diverse ecological regions host an array of plant and animal species and protect important water catchment areas, while playing a
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Investing in South Africa’s national parks South Africa natural heritage is a real asset with measurable financial returns SanParks vision 2040 and new management South African National Parks (SanParks) is shifting from traditional protectionist models towards progressive management through its Vision 2040 strategy. This approach recognises the financial and ecological value of natural capital and
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SA’s ailing smelter industry needs coal says Bayoglu Coal power is indispensable to reverse the decline of South Africa’s alloys industry. WhyAfrica kicked off its 2025 WhyAfrica Road Trip yesterday with a visit to the coalfields of Mpumalanga to get our finger on the pulse of what the coal sector believes is best to move
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The Menar story keeps on getting better Where there are challenges there are always opportunities. South Africa is an example. By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and editor of the WhyAfrica magazine. Vuslat Bayoglu, Managing Director of mining and emerging ferromanganese group Menar, talking about the incredible opportunities in South Africa, is a great
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US tariffs cloud SA’s iron ore and diamond exports The indirect impact on SA’s iron ore and diamond exports is difficult to quantify. The “reciprocal” tariffs announced earlier this year by the Trump administration exempt South Africa’s PGMs, coal, gold, manganese, chrome and vanadium from the 30% import duty. However, South African iron ore, unmounted
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SanParks’ Vision 2040: Where conservation meets development Vision 2040 impacts all sectors is a blueprint for sustainable development. South African National Parks’ (SanParks’) revolutionary Vision 2040: Pathways to the future of conservation, is a bold strategy that redefines the role of national parks in a rapidly developing world. Instead of viewing conservation and development
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WhyAfrica’s 2025 Road Trip ready to roll Yes, we’re back! The 2025 WhyAfrica Road Trip is locked, loaded, and ready to roll. By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and editor of the WhyAfrica magazine Hard hats packed. Safety boots packed. Biltong packed. Koeksisters packed. Tents and sleeping bags packed. We’re having trouble with which South
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Blue Bonds a viable solution to address South Africa’s water crisis The issuing of Blue Bonds could improve sustainable water management in South Africa. By Lerato Nkanza, Partner, and Hemal Heeralal, Candidate Attorney, Webber Wentzel Water scarcity is a growing global concern affecting the lives of millions. In South Africa, limited supplies of usable water, compounded
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A look at South Africa’s crucial and most divisive natural resource The 2025 WhyAfrica Road Trip will go coast to coast in southern Africa. By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and editor of the WhyAfrica magazine. Interesting to note, and unbeknown to many, is that there are Heavy Mineral Sands (HMS) mines on the west
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WhyAfrica prepares for the 2025 WhyAfrica Road Trip WhyAfrica is in the final stages of preparing for the 2025 WhyAfrica Road Trip. By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and editor of the WhyAfrica magazine WhyAfrica is dusting of our equipment and cleaning our boots and camping gear in preparation for the 4th 45-day-long WhyAfrica
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Namibia’s gold and uranium on fire The uranium industry in Namibia is on an upward curve and WhyAfrica’s Pick Of The Week. Namibia’s mining sector continues to register strong gains in 2025, with uranium and gold emerging as key pillars of economic growth and resilience. Namibia’s uranium industry stands out as a top performer, recording
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SanParks’ biodiversity bank a win-win SanParks’ biodiversity bank will offer biodiversity credits for project developers. South African National Parks (SanParks) has come up with an innovative solution to expand South Africa’s protected areas while assisting large project developers to offset their environmental impact. It remains a challenge for developers to avoid environmental impacts and biodiversity
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WhyAfrica explores the world of Virtual Reality Virtual Reality and gaming will have a massive impact on publishing and marketing. By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and Endorphin Expeditions and editor of the WhyAfrica magazine. I love exploring. Not only with groups of exploration geologists (my favourite people on earth) but also exploring new
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