Despite some progress in empowering women in the mining industry, significant challenges remain, reports lobby organisation Women in Mining South Africa (WiMSA) chairperson Raksha Naidoo.

Focusing on these matters, challenges, successes and opportunities will be unpacked at WiMSA’s inaugural symposium – a two-day event that will take place from August 20 to 21, at the Randpark Golf Club, in Johannesburg.

The event will focus on career development, “knowing your rights” and holistic wellness, with the aim of building future women leaders in the mining industry.

The event furthers WiMSA’s mission of championing the cause of women in mining by providing a supportive platform, which Naidoo asserts, is required to help women navigate the challenges they experience in the industry.

These include biases and discrimination based on gender, culture and age, she notes.

Naidoo also raises the concern that, while there are a growing number of women leaders in the industry, there are still insufficient opportunities for them to advance their careers or assume leadership positions, with any appointments of women to such roles often made “merely to fulfil diversity quotas”.

In addition, Naidoo says women often struggle with being taken seriously as leaders and being respected for their expertise, sometimes resulting in women leaving the industry.

Another pertinent issue impacting women in mining is gender-based violence (GBV), which continues to threaten the safety of women in the workplace, underscoring the need for safer working environments, free from all forms of harassment.

However, despite these challenges, Naidoo acknowledges that there have been notable changes in the industry over the past decade.

“We see the increase of female representation in the mining industry, and we are seeing more and more women lifting others as they rise,” observes Naidoo.

She adds that people are increasingly opposing discrimination and harassment, and women are mentoring others, which is building a stronger generation of leaders.

Nonetheless, Naidoo notes that true cultural change requires more male allies and a multi-stakeholder approach, both of which will take time to develop.

WiMSA Efforts
WiMSA addresses issues impacting women in mining through various initiatives, such as awareness campaigns, webinars and other educational activities.

To promote and support women at different stages of their careers, WiMSA’s initiatives include mentoring workshops, career fairs and the creation of a career booklet promoting careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics in the mining industry, as well as facilitating networking opportunities that often lead to mentoring relationships.

Some of WiMSA’s webinars focus on GBV, aiming to empower women by educating them on their rights, teaching them to navigate challenges and helping them find their voices to stand up against harassment and discrimination, says Naidoo.

However, she acknowledges that standing up against harassment and discrimination is not easy for everyone to do.

“We have created a community that lends support to each other, offers mentorship and career development, understands women’s rights and helps women develop their own personal strength and character. This holistic approach prepares them to tackle the challenges this industry throws at us,” explains Naidoo.

This aligns with WiMSA’s bigger goal of developing stronger leaders for the future while building stronger partnerships within the industry.

Through facilitating networking, Naidoo explains that WiMSA has built a community that enables women to meet like-minded peers along with finding mentors or coaches. These connections, she says, are crucial for personal and professional development.

WiMSA’s mentorship webinars and masterclasses focus on building the best version of oneself, aiming to provide women with opportunities to learn through experiences and peer support.

Through encouraging and facilitating peer-to-peer sharing of experiences, WiMSA can help boost the confidence of its members to confront their challenges.

Further, WiMSA engages in discussions with mining companies, sharing its learnings and member feedback to help improve organisational policies.

WiMSA also collaborates and partners with various industry organisations and stakeholders, including the Minerals Council South Africa’s Women in Mining Task Team, the Women in Mining group at the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources and various global Women in Mining organisations.

“The mining industry is tough and there will always be challenging times, but that is okay. How you navigate those challenges is important, and that will ultimately help you forge your future, fearlessly,” concludes Naidoo.