South Africa mining automation may widen inequality

Automation in South Africa’s mining industry could raise productivity and improve safety, but a new review warns that it also risks deepening inequality unless companies and policymakers strengthen oversight and support for workers.

The paper, published in the International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering, examined peer-reviewed studies as well as industry and policy reports to separate documented effects from speculation. According to the researchers, adoption of fourth industrial revolution tools—including autonomous vehicles, drones, smart sensors, and artificial intelligence—is being held back by high investment costs, a shortage of specialist skills, regulatory uncertainty, and resistance to organizational change.

The review found clear operational benefits from digital technology, including higher productivity, better safety outcomes, and real-time monitoring of equipment and hazards. But it also identified persistent downsides already showing up across the sector:

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• Job displacement among low- and semi-skilled workers
• Security threats to critical infrastructure
• Ethical concerns around AI-driven decision-making
• Digital workplace surveillance
• The exclusion of smaller suppliers that cannot meet technology-heavy standards

The authors argue that this challenges the usual narrative around mining automation. They say the shift will require updated employment law, stronger oversight of automated systems, investment in worker retraining, and policies that help local businesses plug into increasingly digital mining supply chains.

The review is titled “A review of the negative impact of adopting fourth industrial revolution technology in South Africa’s mining industry” by T. Tingini et al. It was published in 2026 with the DOI 10.1504/ijmme.2026.154737.