---
title: "South Africa Mining Faces 45,000 Job Losses on Extended Lockdown"
description: "South Africa’s mining industry could shed more than 10,000 direct jobs as the sector reels from the impact of the nationwide lockdown."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Business Maverick"
author: "Bloomberg"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/bloomberg/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-04-15-south-africa-mining-faces-45000-job-losses-on-extended-lockdown/"
published: "2020-04-15T21:25:57"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 133
---

# South Africa Mining Faces 45,000 Job Losses on Extended Lockdown

> South Africa’s mining industry could shed more than 10,000 direct jobs as the sector reels from the impact of the nationwide lockdown.

By Bloomberg · Published 15 April 2020, 23:25 SAST

## Content

South Africa’s mining industry job cuts could rise to more than 45,000, or about 10% of the total number of people employed in the sector, on a prolonged shutdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Minerals Council South Africa said in a report on its website.

Most South African mines have been mothballed since President Cyril Ramaphosa extended a 21-day lockdown by two weeks to the end of this month.

While the lobby group sees annual output contracting by about 5% as a result of the three-week closure, a prolonged lockdown could see production slumping 15%.

“A longer lockdown period, with lower production and no mechanisms in place to support the industry, could put 10% of the workforce at risk-- and this excludes jobs in supplier industries,” the Minerals Council said.