A new academy is set to be launched in South Africa next year in a bid to boost the country's mining sector, Sapa confirmed yesterday (3rd December).

The Bakgatla Ba Kgafela Traditional Administration revealed that the new facility - which is located in Mankwe, North West - has already accepted its first batch of 100 students.

They will commence their studies in January, with the academy stating that its overall aim is to address the skills shortage in the mining industry and improve productivity.

"As a growing community, we are committed to ongoing skills development and lifelong learning," Kgosi Nyalala Pilane, Leader of the Bakgatla Ba Kgafela, told the news provider.

"A training academy focused on developing a new breed of mining personnel is a first for us and our partners in the industry and aims to meet the growing mining need of the country."

South Africa's pgm industry is often afflicted by safety-related mine stoppages and the country has an unfavourable worker deaths record over the past few years.

Source:

Mining academy launched in North West (03/12/09)

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