The Mine Overseer’s certificate of competency is a licence to practice at a South African mine. These certificates are issued to a competent person who can be appointed legally to perform duties of a mine overseer at a South African mine as stipulated in the Mine Health and Safety Act, 1996 (Act 29 of 1996) as amended and its regulations.
There are two types of Mine Overseers’ certificates of competency:
A candidate must meet the required number of practical mine shifts and other application requirements before an application to become a candidate is submitted. Each application and all related enquiries should be submitted and directed to the nearest regional office of the Department of Mineral Resources which has jurisdiction over the mine where the candidate is employed. Contact details of the regional offices are listed under About the Mine Health and Safety Inspectorate - Regional offices.
A candidate will be subjected to an oral and/or written examination consisting of two parts, to determine his/her competence. It is only when found competent, that a Mine Overseers’ certificate of competence is issued.