Women’s Day provides an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women across the various sectors of society, says Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli.

‘Women’s Day is a moment to reflect on the strides we have made towards gender equality. It is also a time to acknowledge the challenges that persist. It is a day to celebrate the achievements of women across various sectors, including mining, which has historically been male dominated,’ said the Deputy Minister.

Mhlauli was speaking at the Sishen Women in Mining Women’s Day Indaba held at Sishen Mine in Kathu, Northern Cape.

In her address on Thursday, she said women have been an integral part of the mining industry, contributing significantly to its growth and development.

‘Despite facing numerous barriers, they have proven that with equal opportunities, women can excel and lead in any field.

‘Today, we honour you as trailblazers and reaffirm our commitment to creating an inclusive environment where women can thrive. The journey for
women in mining has not been easy. They face challenges such as gender discrimination, unequal pay, limited career advancement opportunities, lack of supportive policies and a gender sensitive work environment,’ she explained.

She added that these barriers not only ‘hinder our professional growth but also impact the overall productivity and innovation within the sector’.

While a lot of progress has been made, more still needs to be done.

‘The democratic constitution removed legal barriers that were designed to stop women from participating in the economy, and mining in particular such as the South African Minerals Act of 1991 prohibited women from working underground.

“Since then, new regulations, policies and guidelines governing the sector have actively encouraged the employment of women in the mining industry under the democratic government. It must however be noted that too few women are still in the mining sector as women only account for just over 12% in the sector,’ the Deputy Minister said.

She c
alled for the increased participation of women in the economy and mining while also adding that the South African government has been steadfast in its efforts to promote gender equality.

‘Through the Mining Charter we have worked to transform the mining industry by promoting equitable access to the sector and increasing the representation of historically disadvantaged South Africans, including women. To unlock further potential of women in mining we need to unlock growth in the sector.

‘South Africa has an exceptional endowment of metals and minerals. The world’s largest reserves of platinum group metals and manganese and the second and third largest reserves of chrome and gold respectively are in South Africa.’

Mining is essential for the South African economy, contributing about 6.2% of gross domestic product in 2023 down from 7.3% in 2022.

‘Mining still constitutes a significant share, around 60% of total merchandise exports. In addition, South African miner’s employs around 458 000 individuals, which
is an important contributor towards overall employment,’ she said.

Source : South African Government News Agency