The mining industry in Africa, as a whole, and in South Africa in particular, has recently seen many challenges. Ranging from a drop in mineral prices, strikes by miners for better working conditions and better pay to court cases - such as the one in South Africa where lawyers representing 56 miners who claim to have contracted silicosis during work and have issued a class action suit against a group of mines. Global mining and commodities trader Glencore last week announced the closure of its Eland Platinum Mine, resulting in the retrenchment of 818 workers. To help us analyse the situation we have Senior Executive at the South African Chamber of Mines, Dr Elize Strydom and Alan Fine representing mines involved in the silicosis case, South Africa's Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources, Godfrey Olifant, and Chief Negotiator in the South African Coal sector at the National Union of Mine Workers, Peter Bailey:
