JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – South Africa’s platinum group metals (PGMs) mining and marketing company Valterra Platinum is contributing to local beneficiation by developing industry-relevant platinum jewellery skills that foster innovation and create prospects for South Africans to access global markets.

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed Valterra’s key contribution is made through its support of PlatAfrica in partnership with Metal Concentrators and Platinum Guild International.

The 27th PlatAfrica competition has taken place against the backdrop of jewellery remaining an important demand segment for platinum as well as supporting thousands of jobs across a value chain that extends from mining, smelting and refining to the design, manufacturing, and retail of platinum ornamentation.

PlatAfrica provides participants with technical skills development opportunities, by working directly with platinum and gaining exposure to industry stakeholders.

By supporting jewellery design and manufacturing capabilities, the competition helps to unlock greater value from South Africa’s  platinum resources, which are globally overwhelming.

"PlatAfrica showcases the extraordinary depth of South African design and manufacturing talent while demonstrating the opportunity to create greater value from one of our country's most important natural resources, platinum,” Valterra  CEO Craig Miller pointed out.

“Through this platform, we celebrate innovation, entrepreneurship and craftsmanship, while connecting local designers with global opportunities and supporting the long-term growth of platinum jewellery demand," Miller added in a release to Mining Weekly.

Established to promote local platinum value-addition, demonstrate local craftsmanship, and iterate platinum as a leading luxury jewellery precious metal, PlatAfrica is this continent’s premier annual platinum jewellery design and manufacturing competition.

Over its 27-year history, it has resulted in the training and equipping of more than 1 000 jewellers and designers. Participants are provided with the opportunity to develop their technical competencies, work directly with platinum and gain exposure to industry stakeholders.

This year’s competition stimulated designers to interpret the theme, ‘Equilibrium’, exploring the relationship between contrasting elements such as strength and delicacy, tradition and innovation, and simplicity and complexity.

This year's winning designs highlight platinum's natural white lustre, while its durability and strength provide designers with the freedom to push creative boundaries and craft enduring adornments.

The 2026 professional category winners are Walter Pienaar from Carat Jewellers in first place with a neckpiece titled Huntress and Aimee Bredenkamp and team from Mark Solomon Jewellers in second place with earrings titled African Harmony.

In the student and apprentice category, Shane Field from Aurum Design took first place with a neckpiece titled Tranquility's Tear, Vhutali Shaun Mudau from Cape Peninsula University of Technology took second place with a ring titled Orbit Connection, Wesley Fransman from Prins and Prins/Aurum Art took third place with a neckpiece titled Balanced Orbit, and Berlize Groenewald from Rene Honeyman Jewellery was fourth with a neckpiece titled Homeostasis.

Mongameli Thafeni from Thuto Jewellery Workshop  is the people’s choice winner with a neckpiece titled Manoeuvre.

Valterra has long-life PGM mines as well as integrated marketing hubs in Shanghai, London and Singapore.