Mine safety remains one of Africa's most urgent industrial challenges. Across the continent, mining accidents continue to claim lives, South Africa alone had 42 fatalities in 2024.

Last year, at least 48 were killed in the collapse of an illegally operated goldmine in western Mali, which is one of Africa's leading gold producers, and mining sites are regularly the scene of deadly landslides and accidents.

This raises tough questions about how mines are designed, developed and operated. Cementation Africa, a company involved in mine development and construction, says safety has to be built into a project from day one.

The company's new Business Director Graham Ghamberiain, who is currently attending the the 2026 Mining Indaba in Cape Town, South Africa has more...