Nonprofit women-in-mining lobby organisation Women in Mining South Africa (WiMSA) will exhibit as a strategic partner with Women in Mining UK, at this year’s Investing in African Mining Indaba – to be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, from February 5 to 8.

WiMSA aims to use the Indaba as a platform to increase awareness about some of the challenges women face in the mining sector and to engage in conversations focused on breaking gender stereotypes in the sector.

The organisation will participate in panel discussions and host its own panel during a breakfast event, held in conjunction with Indaba organisers the Hyve Group.

The WiMSA panel will focus on the role that women play as positive disruptors in the future of mining, and will serve as a means of advocating for the greater inclusion and promotion of women in the sector.

“We will be part of many engagements related to the Indaba programme and we intend to be a strong voice in the conversation. As female leaders in the industry, we aim to share our insights on how best we can shape and build a stronger mining industry and society at large,” says WiMSA chairperson Raksha Naidoo.

Greater Representation

WiMSA embarked on various initiatives in 2023 to help progress and develop women in the mining industry.

Some of the highlights, according to Naidoo, included a successful mentorship programme in partnership with career and business coaching company Briony Liber Coaching and Consulting.

WiMSA also held a careers fair in Rustenburg, North West, in April, with mining services company Fraser Alexander, where various industry partners provided insights for about 250 students regarding the mining industry, and the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) studies associated with the sector.

To this end, the organisation has published its career booklet and aims to continue promoting STEM to young girls.

WiMSA also launched a new Technical Pillar with Tech Talks – a series of discussions focused on new technological and innovation advancements made in the industry.

“We want to create safe spaces for women to succeed in, and we want women to become the strongest versions of themselves to occupy leadership roles so that they can empower younger generations.

“This is an exciting time to be in the industry, and we believe that the time for change is now, and we are ready to bring about the change. Together we will forge our futures, fearlessly!” concludes Naidoo.