editorial

Burning question

On a continent where much of the population relies on waste or natural residues to fuel their homes, biomass... Read more
24 Apr, 2019

Natural solution

Lower production costs and advances in technology are making desalination a more attractive option in improving Africa’s resilience to... Read more
24 Apr, 2019

Fuel for thought

A Nigerian university has developed its own power plant fuelled by organic waste. The 100 kVA refuse-driven fuel (RDF)... Read more
2 Apr, 2019

Revved up

Angola’s automotive sector is set for a major boost with the construction of a new assembly plant. Hyundai Motors... Read more
2 Apr, 2019

Artisanal support

The Bank of Namibia is providing funding of NAD4.5 million over three years to the Namibia Training Authority’s (NTA)... Read more
2 Apr, 2019

Consider this conundrum: developing countries with a richness of natural resources, of which the African continent possesses an unusual abundance, tend to have less economic growth and worse development outcomes than many countries with fewer natural resources.

Precise measurements give certainty to small-scale miners

Now consider the same abundance of natural resources but place them in a country such as Australia. For the past few decades, Australia’s mining boom has been legendary, powering the economy through, and beyond, the global downturn of 2008. The resulting contrast could not be clearer. Australia’s level of education, healthcare, social protection systems, infrastructure and governance are what the African continent sorely needs. Australia has taken full advantage of its natural resources and put the country’s revenues to good use. Africa must do the same. The crucial question, however, is how do you go about it, and in what order do you invest the proceeds to gain maximum benefit for a developing country?

A new solution that benefits small-scale miners
Some claim that investing away from natural resources and into, for example, healthcare and education, is the solution to this ‘paradox of plenty’ suffered by many resource-dependent states. Politicians eager for votes tend to be the keenest proponents of this course.

The South African-based Moti Group, however, insists precisely the opposite: while healthcare and education are obviously a necessity for a healthy economy, a solution can also be found in spreading the power and influence of existing producers of natural resources by upskilling small-scale industry and facilitating their tangible participation to the national fiscus.

The Moti Group – one of the biggest and fastest-growing enterprises in Southern Africa, and one of the largest investors in Zimbabwe – is soon to launch its first example of this initiative in that country, with its Zimbabwe Motivation Mining (ZMM) programme, which will target small-scale lumpy chrome ore producers. Through this initiative, the Moti Group – via its Zimbabwean subsidiary, African Chrome Fields – aims to empower small-scale industries to unlock the potential of Africa outside of big business.

Small-scale Zimbabwean miners produce 200 000 tons of lumpy chrome every year. ZMM has the potential to increase this figure to 1 million tons

The Zimbabwe Midlands area is well-known for being home to the world’s second-largest chromite resources in the world. This massive bounty holds great potential for foreign earnings. However, while lumpy chrome has been extensively extracted by traditional, small-scale miners for decades, the potential for mining expansion through these operations – and for drastically improving their livelihoods – stays relatively untapped. The question remains on how the Zimbabwean economy can benefit from the 200 000 tons of lumpy chrome that the small-scale miners produce.

Small-scale miners face enormous challenges, not least of which are access to capital, machinery, geological expertise and fair prices. They also face dangerous working conditions and inevitably contribute to environmental deterioration. These factors greatly hamper their ability to grow their operations and, in the process, to contribute significantly to the Zimbabwean economy through foreign earnings.

The Moti Group’s African Chrome Fields mines and processes alluvial chromite ore along the Great Dyke region, and it is the proprietor of the aluminothermic technology, having established a successful plant utilising this proprietary technology. The Moti Group’s ZMM initiative will enable small-scale producers of lumpy chrome to make a tangible contribution to the national fiscus and, thus, for the first time, to enjoy the benefits of real enterprise for their efforts.

In essence, ZMM will incentivise and train small-scale miners in environmental and safety compliance, empowering them for growth into medium-scale miners by optimising production, over and above boosting their income. ZMM will match the grade of each product with available market prices, and pay miners in a combination of the RTGS (real-time gross settlement) payment platform and US dollars. ‘The programme will incentivise miners to improve and grow their operations through training programmes, financial and intellectual capital, and a trusted channel to the international commodities market,’ says Zunaid Moti, chairman of the Moti Group. Utilising the existing infrastructure and network of African Chrome Fields, ZMM will initially work with small-scale chrome miners before expanding into gold and lithium.

With its partners, ZMM has already earmarked a significant initial funding allocation and, once ZMM is launched, chrome output by small-scale minors may hit 1 million tons in the short to medium term – five times higher than the current 200 000 tons currently produced. ‘Our strategy to empower small-scale industry to contribute to the improvement of export revenues will in turn help support the government’s competition initiatives and improve standards of performance across the sector,’ according to Ashruf Kaka, CEO of the Moti Group. ‘ZMM offers a more sustainable solution to current issues than any existing structure with a similar aim.’

Small-scale industries across the continent should be able to take control of their land and their resources in the same way, and work together to help unlock the potential of Africa outside of big business.

108 4th Street, Parkmore,
Sandton, 2196, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0)11 888 8888
[email protected]

Afrilog provides comprehensive supply management and inventory management services to not only meet but also anticipate the demands of the group’s highly specialised clientele – mining as well as industrial companies.

The Afrilog team has more than a decade of extensive experience on the African continent, which means it is able to offer an international, integrated procurement and logistics solution for the inland, ocean and air transportation of containerised, break-bulk, hazardous and dimensional heavy-lift project cargo throughout the world. The company also provides end-to-end management of the supply chain, including warehouse management. In addition, Afrilog ensures the seamless movement of cargo across Africa. Having operated in various countries across the continent for many years, it has developed good and sound relationships with reputable agents. These relationships help ensure the required cargo can be received and routed seamlessly to project sites.

Due to Afrilog’s sound relationships with reputable agents, cargo can be received and routed seamlessly to project sites

A history of innovation
Afrilog is a proud member of the CSTTAO group, where innovation is central to the DNA of the business. Boasting more than 70 years of experience, knowledge and know-how across the logistics and supply chain industries, CSTT-AO is renowned as the industry pioneers across Africa.

Some of the highlights of the group’s recent history bears testament to this:

  • 1990: It was among the first service providers to offer clients an integrated service that involved not only logistics services, but also taking over the management of clients’ goods from the moment that orders are placed
  •  2000: Development of sourcing and procurement to integrate with logistics
  •  2010: It was the first supply chain management company in West Africa to use the ERP SAP
  • 2015: Regional collaborative storage and distribution (the Moussala platform)
  •  2018: Kaolack river port as break-bulk port for the East Senegal, West Mali and West Guinea Mines.

Today, Afrilog offers complete supply management – from maintenance planning to stock management.

Connecting suppliers and clients
With a legacy of providing innovative and cost-effective supply chain solutions that deliver sustainable operational and financial growth for its clients, the CSTT-AO group of companies launched the African Logistics Platform. Having operated on the African continent for more than 60 years, it has first-hand experience of the challenges clients and suppliers in the mining and related industries face operating in West Africa.

These challenges include:

  • Not being able to stockpile due to a lack of storage facilities and restrictive budgets
  • Long lead times and higher transport costs associated with importing stock as and when needed
  • Complications and barriers that arise during the wet season.
Afrilog’s logistics platform provides suppliers and manufacturers with an in-country presence to store and move goods speedily

With this in mind, the group undertook to provide suppliers and manufacturers with a logistics platform that gives them an in-country presence that enables them to store and move goods speedily. Located on the border of Senegal and Mali, the African Logistics Platform provides complete storage, handling, processing and fulfilment services.

The platform is a natural progression for the CSTT-AO group and brings it closer to realising its vision to be the leading independent service provider, specialising in supply chain management and integrated logistics solutions (across Africa), operating globally.

Key features of the platform

  • Safety
    – Fire hose installation
    – 100 m3 watertank, pumps
    – Portable extinguishers
    – Fire sensors and alarm station
    – Security gates
    – Supervision room with cameras
  •  SAP system
    – Warehouse-management system
    – Replenishment system
    – Hazardous management system
    – Real-time tracking and visibility
    – Reporting tool
  •  ISO standard
    – ISO 9001
    – ISO 14001 & OSHASS 1800 in progress
    – ICMI
  •  Qualified and experienced staff
  • Location
    Moussala Platform to:
    – Loulo-Gounkoto: 25 km
    – Tabakoto: 47 km
    – Massawa: 108 km
    – Sabodala: 123 km
    – Mako: 173 km.

Key benefits of the platform

  • Brings the stock (vendor) closer to the mines (customer)
  • Delivers to the mining industry a complete, integrated and flexible supply chain solution that contributes to reduction of inventories and lead times, and optimisation of procurement budge
  • Provides vendors and manufacturers with an adequate and safe distribution solution with a deep knowledge of local procedure
  • Compliance with safety and environmental standards.
Head office: 134-135 Nasmith Road,
Jupiter, Germiston, 2094,
Johannesburg, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0)11 021 5230
www.afrilog.com

The International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities (IAMRA) held its 13th international conference on medical regulation (6–9 October 2018) in Dubai, UAE, under the theme: Empowering Regulation with Innovation and Evidence. At this conference, Dr Tebogo Kgosietsile Solomon Letlape, president of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) was elected as chair of IAMRA.

Letlape’s election as the chair of IAMRA came exactly two months after his election as president of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa (AMCOA), at its 22nd annual conference, which was held in Ghana.

Dr Tebogo Kgosietsile Solomon Letlape, chair of IAMRA and president of the Health Professions Council of South Africa

AMCOA’s primary purpose is to support medical regulatory authorities on the continent in their quest to protect the public by promoting high standards of medical education, registration and regulation. AMCOA also seeks to facilitate the ongoing exchange of information among medical regulatory authorities.

In accordance with Article 4 of AMCOA’s constitution, membership in the association is open for all councils/boards that regulate medical and dental practitioners within Africa.States applying to become members may be admitted on a formal resolution by AMCOA. The current membership of AMCOA comprises 19 African member states.

The Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) is proud of this fact, and of Letlape’s achievements. In congratulating Letlape, HPCSA vice-president Lesiba Malotana said: ‘It gives me immense pleasure to extend, on behalf of the HPCSA Council, our warmest congratulations to Dr Kgosi Letlape on his election as chair of the International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities. Dr Letlape is a renowned leader in the healthcare profession and has shown commitment to co-operation and collaboration among medical regulatory authorities as a basis on which to benchmark good practice, promote ambitious standards, and ensure patient safety. ‘Certainly, his willingness to volunteer his time and effort, as well as express his opinions, has contributed to him being elected for the position. Once more, as the HPCSA and as the nation, we commit our full support and wish him all the best as he represents us.’

IAMRA membership extends to 48 countries that comprise both members and partners. IAMRA exists to support the world’s medical regulatory authorities in their endeavour to protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the public by ensuring proper standards for the profession of medicine.

Through scientific, educational and collaborative activities, IAMRA strives to encourage best practices among the world’s medical regulatory authorities and to respond to both their current and future needs. As a membership organisation, IAMRA values the communication, participation and interaction that are key to the success of this international collaboration. South Africa will play host to the 14th International Conference on Medical Regulation in 2020.

About Dr Tebogo Letlape
Letlape is the current president of the HPCSA and chairperson of the Medical and Dental Professions Board. He made history by becoming the first African to qualify as an ophthalmologist in South Africa during the apartheid years and was also the first African to be elected president of the World Medical Association in 2006. He is a former chairman of the South African Medical Association (SAMA).

Dr Tebogo Kgosietsile Solomon Letlape, chair of IAMRA and president of the HPCSA and Dr Manyangane Raymond Billa, CEO/Registrar of the HPCSA

Urged by the late former South African President Nelson Mandela, Letlape embarked on an ambitious project towards providing access to antiretroviral treatment to HIV-positive patients in 2003. Together with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and SAMA, he established the Tshepang Trust, of which he is a former executive director. The Tshepang Trust facilitated the treatment of HIV-positive patients when none was provided by the government at the time.

His interest in healthcare for South Africans sees him participating in various health committees and task teams, and he serves as a member of the Global Hygiene Council.

Tel: (+27) 12 338 9300,
Fax: (+27) 12 328 5120
[email protected]
www.hpcsa.co.za

Ideal formula

Fast-changing mining conditions require customised chemical processing solutions, according to Axis House MD, Justine Stubbs.
25 Jan, 2019

On the money

Apart from being providers of credit, development banks play a crucial role as a catalyst for investment and ensuring that the... Read more
25 Jan, 2019