Fin24 reports that data released by the Minerals Council SA (MCSA) on Thursday showed that in 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country, the mining industry employed more than 9,000 fewer people than in the previous year.

Although the sector experienced disruptions - including the impact on employee numbers - the MCSA (previously called the Chamber of Mines) said commodity prices had surged. "The full year 2020 employee numbers are 452,866, which is 9,172 jobs less than the average during 2019, or 2% lower," according to the data. Prices were 17% higher in January 2020 compared to nine years earlier, after a recovery from the global financial crisis. However, contribution to GDP was at R371.9 billion, a dip from R376.4 billion. While fewer people were employed in the sector, compensation for employees increased by around 5% from two years previously, with R151.7 billion paid to employees overall, up from R144.4 billion in 2019. "The negative impact on mining was lighter than that compared to many other parts of the economy due to the excellent cooperation and collaboration between the industry and government in getting the sector safely back to work as quickly as possible," said MCSA chief executive Roger Baxter. But, safety levels regressed. The year 2019 had been the safest on record, however, the industry observed a "disappointing regression" in 2020 with 60 fatalities, compared to 51 in 2019. The figure represents an increase of 18% in fatalities year-on-year.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sibongile Khumalo at Fin24

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