ABOUT MEMSA
Formally established in 2016, Mining Equipment Manufacturers of South Africa or MEMSA is an industry cluster organisation aimed at advocating for and promoting the interests of its members and the mining equipment manufacture industry in South Africa, more broadly. MEMSA is housed in the Mining Precinct, at the heart of Gauteng, South Africa’s primary mining equipment manufacturing region.
Vision Statement
It is MEMSA’s vision to position SA mining capital goods, components & product manufacturers as a cost competitive, innovative and transformative industrial cluster which is the preferred supplier to the local, regional and global markets.
Objectives
MEMSA’S objectives include
- promoting the interests of Members and the sector through advocacy and building of strategic partnerships;
- supporting local technology development and acquisition, and IP protection;
- the development of domestic, regional and other export markets for Members;
- the realisation of the regional Southern African Development Community (SADC) mining capital goods market;
- targeted skills and knowledge development;
- transformation in line with applicable Codes of Good Practice;
- promoting Members’ awareness of and participation in existing industrial support programs and advocating for targeted mining machinery and equipment manufacturing support programs and/or schemes;
Brief history
The dti’s Resource Capital Goods Development Plan Study indicated that the formation of an industry cluster would be key to promoting the interests of mining equipment manufacturers, and facilitating the benefits of cooperation. Accordingly a group of manufacturers, ranging from large SA-based multinationals to smaller specialized and emerging companies, came together in 2015 to establish the Mining Equipment Manufacturers of South Africa (MEMSA) as in industry cluster organisation.
Milestones thus far include:
- First formal meeting April 2016, election of interim board: Anton Wheeler (Aard), Ulrich Kienle (HPE), Paul Jourdan (Project Manager/CEO).
- Development of Memorandum of Incorporation.
- Move into offices 239 and 243 at the Mining Precinct, Melville, Johannesburg*.
- NPC established in October 2016 and Board confirmed.
- Application for Cluster Development Funding submitted to dti, October 2016.
- Further board members elected: Freddy Mugeri (Fabchem), Navin Singh (Mining Precinct), Alastair Macfarlane (Chamber of Mines), October 2016.
- Meeting with Chamber of Mines, confirming recognition, and commitment to cooperation by the Chamber.
- CDP Funding application approved (April 2017) and Funding Agreement signed with dti (July 2017).
- Members Workshop in which programmes are confirmed and Task Teams set up to guide implementation.
*The CSIR’s Mining Precinct generously provides MEMSA with office space and access to facilities at the Mining Precinct, where a range of mining-related organisations and companies are synergistically located.