PGMs and gold boost SA’s mining growth as JSE hits record high and rand strengthens

SOUTH Africa's mining sector recorded modest growth in September 2025, supported largely by stronger output from platinum-group metals (PGMs), gold, and coal, according to Statistics South Africa’s (Stats SA) on Thursday.

- YOGASHEN PILLAY

The data shows that mining production increased by 1.2% year-onyear in September, while seasonally adjusted mining output rose 2.5% in the third quarter compared with the second quarter of the year.

Jean-Pierre Terblanche, principal service statistician at Stats SA, said the 2.5% expansion in the third quarter was mainly driven by platinum-group metals, which surged 6.7%, adding 1.7 percentage points to overall growth.

Gold production also jumped 5.9% year-on-year in September, the strongest annual gain since July 2023, following a 3.6% decline in August. On a seasonally adjusted basis, gold production increased 6.6% in September, rebounding from a 3.6% drop in August.