Mining Indaba Forum to Spotlight SA’s Critical Minerals Investment Pipeline

The forum will also serve as a platform to position South Africa as a value-adding hub for critical minerals, rather than a mere exporter of raw materials.

Next week’s Mining Indaba Investment Forum will create a high-level platform for direct engagement between government and global investors, with a strong focus on deepening public–private sector collaboration in South Africa’s mining and minerals sector.

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), in partnership with the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) and the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), will host the joint forum at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) on Monday, 9 February 2026, on the sidelines of the annual Mining Indaba.

Focus on Building Critical Minerals Value Chains

Held under the theme “Building Critical Minerals Value Chains in South Africa”, the investor-focused forum aims to showcase South Africa’s critical minerals investment proposition and highlight bankable, investor-ready projects across the minerals value chain.

“This is an opportunity for direct engagement between government and investors, with a strong emphasis on strengthening collaboration between the public and private sectors,” the dtic said in a statement on Tuesday.

High-Level Dialogue on Policy, Industrialisation and Beneficiation

A high-level panel comprising Cabinet Ministers and private-sector leaders will lead discussions on:

• Enabling South Africa’s Critical Minerals Strategy

• Advancing industrialisation and beneficiation

• Developing sustainable and resilient value chains

The forum will also serve as a platform to position South Africa as a value-adding hub for critical minerals, rather than a mere exporter of raw materials.

Investor-Ready Projects and Global Market Insights

In addition to policy discussions, the forum will showcase investor-ready projects and offer global investors an opportunity to share market insights and demand trends, particularly in the context of the global energy transition and growing demand for strategic minerals.

“The 2026 Mining Indaba provides an important opportunity to reinforce South Africa’s investment appeal in critical minerals,” the department said.

World’s Largest Mining Investment Conference

The dtic noted that the Mining Indaba remains the world’s largest mining investment conference, attracting:

• Governments and policymakers

• Global mining companies

• Original equipment manufacturers

• Technology firms

• Financial institutions and development financiers

The Investment Forum is expected to play a key role in aligning investment capital, industrial policy and infrastructure planning, reinforcing South Africa’s position as a strategic player in global critical minerals supply chains.