Boitumelo (Tumi) Nkomo

Is the Women in Mining Programme Specialist at Minerals Council. She is responsible for Minerals Council Women in Mining Programme, which consolidates the efforts of council members to tackle challenges faced by women in South Africa's mining sector. These challenges include gender-based violence, bullying, harassment, the gender pay gap and biases against women in a historically male-dominated industry. The programme's strategic objective is to eliminate these challenges, create a welcoming working environment for women, reduce attrition, and attract more women to the sector to ensure the demographics reflect those of the country.

Nkomo was born on November 21, 1982, in Johannesburg and holds a Bachelor of Economics from Rhodes University in Grahamstown and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Development Finance from Stellenbosch University Business School. In 2019, she earned a Master of Philosophy in Development Finance from the same institution. Her management style leans towards transformational leadership, aiming to push boundaries in innovation and productivity, foster professional growth, and create an enabling environment for creativity and potential. She leads with transparency and integrity, taking accountability for her team.

Reflecting on her personal best achievement, Nkomo resonates with Nelson Mandela's words about life's continuous challenges. She believes her greatest achievements will be recognised after a long life of climbing many metaphorical hills. She does not idolise any single person but admires various qualities in different individuals and would value a dinner with a dynamic group possessing those qualities.

Her life philosophy is encapsulated in Robert Frost's poem The Road Not Taken, where the last stanza reads, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference,”  advocating for authenticity, bravery in facing the unknown, and living boldly outside of one's comfort zone. Nkomo's message to other women leaders in South Africa's business community is to be authentic and respectful, put in the requisite work, and help others as they progress. She encourages women to be themselves, to show up authentically in every situation and to strive to leave a positive impact on their areas of influence.

Lindokuhle Zwane 

Serves as the Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) Project Coordinator at Minerals Council South Africa. At just 28, she has already made significant strides in her career, particularly in her role facilitating and streamlining the national Thuthuzela Care Centres (TCCs) partnership. This initiative is a collaboration between the National Prosecuting Authority, GBVF Response Fund and Minerals Council, which includes 12 member companies dedicated to enhancing support for TCCs in mining host communities.

Born and raised in Elukwatini, a small village in Mpumalanga, Zwane has always been driven by a strong sense of purpose and resilience. Her management style focuses on meeting people at their level, fostering an environment of open-mindedness, diversity and inclusion. This approach promotes growth and transformation.

As a survivor of gender-based violence, Zwane considers her greatest personal achievement to be overcoming the victim mentality. She found purpose in her tragedy, allowing her to heal and let go of rage. Inspired by girls' education activist Vee Kativhu, Zwane aspires to articulate her career achievements confidently and without imposter syndrome. Her life philosophy centres on the belief that everything meant for her will find her, reinforcing that she is exactly where she is supposed to be. Zwane’s message to women is: free yourself from the idea that likability is essential for career growth. Show up as your authentic self and own your narrative. In doing so, you can truly embrace and celebrate your greatness. 

Salome Makgato 

Born on August 4, 1983, in Emalahleni, Makgato serves the mining industry as an Adoption Team Manager for Dust at Minerals Council South Africa,  the primary advocate and representative of the South African mining industry with 134 years of service and collaboration. Her strategic role focuses on combating Occupational Lung Diseases in the mining sector, specialising in promoting health and safety through the identification, documentation and widespread adoption of dust leading practices.

With a background in ventilation engineering, Makgato joined the mining industry in 2006 as a Learner Official at Anglo Platinum. She earned her Mine Environmental Control Certificate in 2009 and has held various positions, including Ventilation Officer, Section Ventilation Officer, Ventilation Engineer and VOHE Superintendent.

Makgato's management style adapts to the situation, though she generally leans towards an affiliative approach, creating a work environment that enables her team to thrive. She believes in winning hearts to influence hands. Her personal best achievement is not just becoming the first female Shaft Ventilation Engineer for Anglo American Platinum in 2011, but rather her resilience over the past 13 years in an environment that sometimes suggests she does not belong because she is female.

While Makgato does not have a specific person in mind whom she would most like to meet, she does list the qualities of a person who is strong, wise, humble, considerate, assertive and able to see the bigger picture. Her philosophy of life is to evolve and never stop learning, aligning with Alwin Toffler's belief that "The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn."

To other women leaders in the South African business community, she says, “Mbokodo, you are adequate, and this world needs you and your contribution in its current form and shape. You have an answer to at least one of the industry’s challenges. Focus and deliver.”

Judith Elizabeth van Niekerk (Hasenbroek) (aka Julize)

Is Minerals Council South Africa Mining Industry Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) Adoption Team Manager for Noise. The council's MOSH initiative, established in June 2003 by the then Chamber of Mines and its social partners, government and labour, focuses on adopting leading practices to enhance health and safety in the mining industry, targeting issues like falls of ground, transport and machinery, dust and noise. Hasenbroek's team identifies, selects and documents leading practices from operational mines, addressing potential adoption barriers, and compiling comprehensive leading practice adoption guides. These guides detail technological solutions, leadership behaviours and behavioural communication plans necessary for successful adoption across various mining sites, emphasising the importance of support at all levels.

Hasenbroek was born on June 28, in Newcastle, KwaZulu Natal, and raised in Lephalale, Limpopo. She holds a B.Sc. in Physiology and Microbiology, a B.Sc. Honours in Physiology, an M.Sc. in Occupational Hygiene, and a Diploma in Mine Environmental Control & Occupational Hygiene (MEC). Her management style combines coaching and visionary approaches for younger colleagues with consultative and persuasive methods in her daily engagements.

Hasenbroek's personal best achievement includes being the first female branch chairperson of the Mine Ventilation Society in 2016 and its first female President in 2022. However, she values being a trustworthy, loyal, dependable, honest and supportive friend even more. Her wish list of people to meet includes historical figures like Maya Angelou, Mahatma Gandhi and Helen Keller, and currently living individuals like Ryan Reynolds and Charlie Mackesy. Her life philosophy emphasises kindness, compassion and authenticity, believing that simple acts of kindness can significantly impact others.

Her message to other women leaders in South Africa is to always recognise their choices, even when difficult, and to pursue what makes them happy, as great work stems from loving what you do.

www.mineralscouncil.org.za