The SA mining industry enters the HIV/AIDS war zone

The mining sector represents a significant portion of the South African economy. The recent announcement of the proposed black empowerment bill for the mining sector caused share prices to plummet. This reaction, in turn, caused a marked devaluation of the rand against other major currencies. Anything that impacts negatively on the mining sector will therefore have an adverse effect on the South African economy. This paper considers the affect that HIV/AIDS will have on the mining sector and, by implication, on the South African economy. Consideration is given to whether mining companies manage this risk properly and whether it is reasonably accounted for and disclosed in the financial statements. Conclusions are drawn and recommendations made regarding HIV/AIDS risk management and how HIV/AIDS issues can be disclosed fairly. Although the management teams of mining companies have introduced a HIV/AIDS risk‐management process and have commenced the disclosure of HIV/AIDS information, the disclosure is still far from adequate.