By: Mining Review Africa

Hosted by WiMSA, the symposium’s theme, “Step Up and Stand Out,” is not a slogan. It’s a call to action—a recognition of the quiet revolutions already unfolding in boardrooms, shafts, labs, and control rooms across the country. It’s also a reminder that when women rise in mining, they don’t rise alone—they elevate teams, challenge norms, and shift the status quo.

Despite notable strides, the statistics remain sobering. Women account for just about 15% of South Africa’s mining workforce—up from 12% in 2013. Yet those numbers conceal a deeper transformation: women now make up nearly one-third of mining-related graduates. In fields like geoscience and chemical engineering, they’re outpacing men. However, the barrier isn’t skills—it’s opportunity.

What’s more promising? Leadership is starting to reflect that shift. Companies like Anglo American and Sibanye-Stillwater are leading by example, with women occupying up to 34% of management positions. But it’s not just about compliance or ticking boxes. Studies show that diverse leadership correlates with better innovation, safer operations, and stronger financial returns—benefits any industry should pursue deliberately.

This year’s keynote speaker, Nompumelelo Zikalala, CEO of Kumba Iron Ore, represents the kind of leadership that doesn’t just climb—it clears the path for others. And with over 400 women and allies in attendance, the ripple effect is real and growing.

Still, South Africa’s mining sector has work to do. PPE often doesn’t fit. Safety systems overlook gender. Career paths remain steep and uneven. Structural issues—from policy blind spots to legacy biases—continue to shape the lived experience of many women underground and above it. But as Deputy Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Phumzile Mgcina recently noted, over 70,000 women are already in the system—more than six times the number from two decades ago. That’s not a trend—that’s a shift in momentum.

The WiMSA Symposium is both a mirror and a megaphone. It reflects the remarkable progress already made, and it amplifies the urgency for more. When women in mining step up, they aren’t just stepping into roles. They’re stepping into power—reshaping an industry, one policy, one mentorship, and one connection at a time.