Minerals and Energy Minister Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka on Thursday launched the Bopa Batho foundation, whose mission is to bring the previously disadvantaged into the mining industry.

Speaking in Johannesburg, she said the development of human resources was critical to South Africa's economic growth.

This aspect of the economy had been "neglected to a horrifying degree during the apartheid era," she said.

"Skills shortages are inhibiting economic growth and the creation of new jobs. Compared to other countries with similar economies South Africa still has too many unskilled people."

She said developing human resources throughout the mining sector included training for small-scale miners and upgrading the levels of maths, science and English among students entering the industry.

Bopa Batho is an initiative of Mintek, otherwise known as the Council for Mineral Technology, a statutory body which develops new technology for the mining industry.

Mintek spokesman Dr Francis Petersen said Bopa Batho grew from discussions with government and black economic empowerment companies.

He said the Mining Charter insisted on the development of appropriate human resources, and there was a demand from previously disadvantaged people that they be given new skills.

Petersen said Bopa Batho would provide training at all levels of the industry from small informal mining operations and community-based jewellery-making projects to fully developing post-graduate students.

Petersen said Mintek would set up a small mining school where informal miners could learn about current technology, environmental awareness and the economics of their business, however small. They would then practise what they had learned and spread the word to other small operators.

The same would apply to informal jewellery makers.

Bursaries would be provided for under-graduate and post-graduate students.

However, he emphasised a degree in itself was not necessarily sufficient.

"A further problem associated with human resources development is the appropriate practical training to complement the theoretical knowledge. Freshly graduated engineers, technologists or geologists are often not immediately useful to industry and find it difficult to get employment."

He said to remedy that, Bopa Batho would provide practical skills to ensure graduates became easily employable.

"These in-training programmes are aligned to standards set by the Engineering Council of South Africa," said Petersen.

Bateman Africa announced at the launch that five percent of its shareholding had been allocated to Bopa Batho to "ensure there is a structured approach in the development of black professionals in the minerals sector" - Sapa.