The Council for Geoscience (CGS) constituted the delegation of Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) to the Prospectus and Developers Association Conference (PDAC) in Canada. The conference and trade show is held annually during the first week of March at the Metro Convention Centre in Toronto, focusing on the development of junior to mid-tier mining value chain development, spanning exploration (geological information), development, financing, services, legal, and so on. The DMR led the South African delegation supported by the Department of Trade and Industry, Mintek, South African Diamond and Precious Metal Regulator, the CGS as well as the SA High Commission in Canada. The conference officially commenced on Sunday the 5th and continued till Wednesday the 8th of March 2017. The South African government safeguarded a strategic position at the trade show and maintained a strong brand presence while promoting the country as the ideal mining investment destination.

On Friday 17 February 2017, the Acting CEO of the CGS, Mr Mosa Mabuza hosted Professor Hiroshi Ogasawara from Ritsumeikan University, Japan. The purpose of this meeting was in furtherance of the collaborative agreement between the Ritsumeikan University, the CGS and the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP), especially within the context of the MoU recently signed between the DMR and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (METI) at the 2017 Mining Indaba.

The Mining Indaba commenced on the 6^th of February 2017 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. The Minister of Mineral Resources, His Excellency Mr Mosebenzi Zwane delivered the keynote address where he began by commemorating 150 years since the discovery of alluvial Eureka diamond in the Northern Cape. The twin discovery of diamonds and gold spurred the establishment of modern mining and our economy at large. He furthered went on to express appreciation and gratitude to the organizing committee and participants of the 35^th International Geological Congress (35^th IGC) for delivering such a successful and memorable Congress. The 35^th IGC aided in generating interest on the prospectivity for mineral and upstream petroleum resources in South Africa through the application of new techniques in mapping. The highlight of the Minister Zwane’s address was the announcement of a high intensity, integrated and multidisciplinary 10-year mapping programme at a scale of one in fifty thousand [1:50 000] nationwide. The programme will be a great platform in rebuilding and protecting the rich and unique geological heritage of South Africa. This will also be an incredible opportunity for the various competencies within the CGS to work as a collective in addressing grand challenges in South Africa and moving forward the interest of ordinary South Africans. The management of the CGS and its competencies give full support to this revitalised mapping programme which will for the greater part be aligned to the National Development Plan Vision 2030 and Presidential 9-point plan.