Modern Mining August 2020

WOMEN IN MINING

was incentive enough to take the challenge on. “I am a natural go-for-it type of person who believes that nothing set before me is impossible. I have been in the industry for 10 years, moving from being a mere graduate miner to obtaining my Mine Manager’s Certificate. I have spent the past few years of my career as a shift supervisor and mine overseer,” she says. Leshabane has been with AECI Mining Explo­ sives for a year and some two months – a company that has been at the forefront of the change regime in this sector to bring inclusivity, defeminisation of the workplace, and working towards achieving organisational modernisation, competitiveness and an assurance for non-gender driven, innovative mining. Her role as site manager entails overseeing the whole operation, ensuring that all the appropriate standards, systems and procedures are implemented in line with customer requirements. For Leshabane, entering an industry such as min- ing as a young female comes not only as a great opportunity, but also presents its set of hurdles. “Accepting that this is the state of play is the first step in overcoming the hurdles,” she says. “The majority of what the industry stands for promotes patriarchal stigmas and nuances. However, coexist- ing with these isn’t as impossible as it has always been thought to be.” Yes, she has had to work extra hard to be afforded

of any race or culture can be considered for roles that were previously earmarked for a cer- tain group of people. “I hope to do my bit in making this indus- try attractive and accessible to men and women alike,” adds van den Berg. Leading the women’s revolution Another woman who is lead- ing the women’s revolution in the mining sector is Sarah Leshabane, AECI Mining Explosives’ site manager at Venetia Mine, who continues to prove that no barrier can be too high for women to carve their

own path in the mining environment. Upon completing her matric, studying mining engineering at Wits University was both an opportu- nity and a challenge, given the status quo and stigma around the mining industry being a male-dominated environment. Being the only daughter in a family of three, however, was sort of a great preparation for the challenge. After graduating with her BSc in Engineering, she still had her fears to enter a traditionally man-driven industry, but her vivacity to challenge the status quo

Sarah Leshabane, AECI Mining Explosives’ site manager at Venetia Mine.

In South Africa, women represent only 13% of the mining labour force, according to the Minerals Council South Africa.

the same privileges and honours as her male counterparts, but Leshabane believes that’s the beauty of it all – it is a challenge for one’s person, not just the intellectual ability, but the emo- tional aspect as well. “Women are said to have great emotional instincts. This can be a curse to some, but can be also used as a power- ful tool to pave one’s way in an industry where the femininity is associated with mediocrity. In fact, being told ‘I can’t do it’ is what motivates me to keep going,” she says. Commenting on some of the challenges women face in the industry, Leshabane says the greatest tragedy that could befall a young woman deciding to enter a male-dominated industry is lack of self-worth and identity. “This can, and almost always, is defined by subtle utterances and ‘jokes’ about the inadvertent failure that she faces. The trick that has always worked for me is

36  MODERN MINING  August 2020