Modern Mining August 2024

WOMEN IN MINING

Breaking new ground in gender equality through training By recognising the importance of gender equality in mining occupations, Murray & Roberts Cementation continues to create opportunities for women – even targeting unemployed youth in extensive training initiatives.

T he company’s contribution to the skills pipeline is based on its dedication to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion – both for its own needs and those of the broader mining sector, according to Talita Hurter, who is the Education, Training and Development (ETD) Officer for SHEQ Learnerships at Murray & Roberts Cementation Training Academy (MRTA). “Our Murray & Roberts Cementation diversity and inclusion policy explicitly recognises the importance of gender diversity in the workplace,” says Hurter. “This helps to create a work Talita Hurter, Education, Training and Development (ETD) Officer for SHEQ Learnerships at Murray & Roberts Cementation Training Academy (MRTA).

Portia Mgabashe, who started her learnership in 2015, is today responsible for facilitating and assessing learners.

and safety skills, paving the way for them to enter the job market in mining and other sectors,” she explains. The quality of this training is well demonstrated by the safety outcomes, she says, with no reports from operations of any safety incidents involving any of these learners. “This tells us that our training has been on the mark and that our learners have taken on board both the skills and our culture of safety,” says Hurter. “The training received from the MRTA has also inspired many women to further their studies within mining, engineering, safety and construction.”

environment where all employees – regardless of gender – feel valued, respected and empowered to succeed. We also implement a rigorous employment equity plan for managing and tracking equity in recruitment, promotions and terminations.” These efforts are paying off, with

In regard to both the training quality and its inclusion of women, she pays tribute to

the late Tony Pretorius, the company’s Education, Training and Development Executive. Pretorius was instrumental in the continuous enhancement of the MRTA, as well as in the advancement of women within the organisation, she says. As an example of how women have

The training received from the MRTA has also inspired many women to further their studies within mining, engineering, safety and construction.

the intake of women in MRTA training interventions increasing drastically over the years, she says. In its learnership programme, for instance, women are given preference when recruiting learners. Over 50% of the unemployed community members recruited into this programme are now women. “At the MRTA, we have empowered hundreds of unemployed female community residents with basic technical

built careers in mining through the company, Hurter relates the story of Maria Nkoana, who started as a mining intern in November 2016. Nkoana obtained her blasting ticket in 2018, and the following year was absorbed as a mining graduate for three years under the MRTA.

26  MODERN MINING  www.modernminingmagazine.co.za | AUGUST 2024