The SANIRE Eastern Bushveld Branch will host an underground Technical Visit on 18 March 2026 at 06:00, followed by a Branch Meeting on 19 March 2026 at 08:00, both taking place at Ivanplats in Mokopane. These engagements provide an opportunity for industry professionals to strengthen technical knowledge, share practical insights, and foster collaboration within the rock engineering community. Please note that the Technical Visit is limited to a maximum of 25 participants.
We are pleased to invite you to FOGAP 2026 – Annual Day of Learning, taking place on Friday, 27 March 2026, at Silverstar Casino Conference Centre, Mogale City.
This year’s theme, “The Climb to Zero,” reflects the mining industry’s ongoing commitment to strengthening safety, reducing risk, and striving toward zero harm. The day will bring together industry professionals to reflect on lessons learned, share practical insights, and explore leadership approaches that support safer, more responsible operations.
Registration is now open for the SANIRE Mentorship Programme.
This initiative connects aspiring Rock Engineers with experienced professionals to support career growth, skills development, and knowledge sharing within the Rock Engineering community. Mentees gain practical guidance and industry insight, while mentors give back to the profession and help shape the next generation of Rock Engineers.
Join us for an insightful Technical Night dedicated to addressing practical Rock Engineering challenges and real-world applications. This session will highlight industry case studies, lessons learned from operational environments, and technical approaches that support safer and more efficient practices.
Designed to encourage knowledge-sharing and professional engagement, the evening provides a platform for meaningful discussion, peer interaction, and the exchange of practical expertise within the rock engineering community.
6 March 2026 The SANIRE Coalfields Branch invites Rock Engineering professionals to attend its upcoming Branch Meeting on 6 March 2026 at Evander Club.
This meeting will provide a focused platform for technical engagement within the coalfields Branch. Attendees will have the opportunity to share practical experience, discuss current operational challenges, and exchange insights relevant to regional Rock Engineering practice. The Branch Meeting aims to strengthen professional collaboration, uphold technical standards, and support continuous learning within the industry.
Following the tragic collapse of the Coalbrook Colliery in 1960, Salamon and Munro published their well-known equation for pillar strength in 1967. This equation became the statutory basis for coal pillar design and was later adapted for use in hard-rock mines. In the years that followed, further collapses occurred, fortunately without loss of life and the statistical database of collapsed pillars used by Salamon and Munro continued to grow. There are now 85 documented collapse cases, compared to the 27 available in the 1960s. It also became apparent that not all coal has the same strength. The Vaal Basin, for instance, is notorious for its weak coal. Additional methods of statistical analysis were subsequently developed.
07 July 2026 - 08 July 2026 The South African National Institute of Rock Engineering Symposium is a forum for Rock Engineering Practitioners to showcase their technical abilities and skills to the industry over a period of two days. Participants and Presenters network, share ideas, knowledge and practices, whilst learning more about the most recent innovations, trends, experiences and concerns in Rock Engineering. In an effort to respond to ideas coming from SANIRE members the 2026 Symposium will feature an opportunity for expanded participation in the programme through presentations.
The SANIRE Gauteng Branch and Free-Vaal Branch cordially invite members to their joint Year-End Function on 4 December 2025 at Stonehaven on Vaal, Baddrift Bridge, Vaal River, Vanderbijl. This annual event provides an opportunity to reflect on the branches’ accomplishments, acknowledge the contributions of their members, and foster professional connections within the SANIRE community.
We look forward to welcoming all members to this special occasion.
The SANIRE Eastern Bushveld Branch invites all members to join us for our Year-End Function on 5 December 2025 at Sunrise Serenity. This annual gathering provides an opportunity to reflect on the year’s activities, acknowledge the contributions of our members, and strengthen relationships within the branch.
The SANIRE Coal Branch would like to invite you to join us on 27 November 2025 at the Kriel Golf Club for our Year-End Function. This special event provides an excellent opportunity to connect with industry professionals, catch up with colleagues, and celebrate the successes and milestones of the year.
If you would like to take part in the golf activity, please indicate this when you RSVP. Kindly note that golfers are expected to bring their own golf club sets.
