The mining industry has always been a male-dominated industry, but women are taking up essential roles and bringing an untapped strength to the industry.
South Africa (13 September 2022) – The mining industry is having a “girl power” moment, with many women taking up important roles within the industry. More women in South Africa are studying within the STEM fields and working their way into senior roles than ever before. Companies like Exxaro are taking notice and ensuring their teams invest in the women joining the industry.
Mining is a historically male-dominated industry, from the executives to the engineers to the providers across the supply chain. Recognising the strengths of women, which includes collaboration, communication, and leadership, unlocks a significant untapped value.
Most families in South Africa are women headed; there is extensive evidence to support the social progress that is enabled by women earners in their contribution to households and communities. For every one woman employed, ten people benefit, especially in the smaller, isolated mining communities.
For Exxaro, the need for diversity in the mining industry, and in addition to shifting the gender balance within their mining and management teams, the company is also focused on making business opportunities available to aspiring and competent women entrepreneurs within the value chain of the mine, to help grow these SMEs and in doing so, to stimulate local economic development.
Addressing this social challenge is opening a world of opportunity not only for the women being empowered by Exxaro, but the company also sees a shift in their own business through their inclusive initiatives.
One of the women feeling the shift is Ndivhuwo Nkosi, who is a senior engineer at Exxaro. Before she started working at Exxaro, she had gotten used to being the only woman in the boardroom, but today, she is joined by several women.
She manages the plant and is passionate about her job. She has become awakened to the power women bring to leadership in the company, from bold, strategic and wise decision-making to forging collaborations, fostering communications and enabling employees to perform at their peak through development and a strong sense of support.
Many women are benefitting from different programmes being run by Exxaro. Some are directors of supply-chain businesses such as transporting coal, and others manage and run tooling firms that keep Exxaro’s plant fully functional.
Empowered women have the power to change communities and lives, and this is how they are doing it!
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