The National Foundry Technology Network (NFTN) aims to support and facilitate growth and transformation in the South African foundry (metal-casting) industry through targeted technical interventions. It supports improved foundry competitiveness, the introduction of new technologies, product development and the development of critical skills for the sector.

When people speak about engineering, they often speak about machines, metals, manufacturing, robotics and automation. However, for the NFTN sector sustainability manager Manini Phokwane Ramagaga, it is developing a revitalised, low-carbon and globally competitive foundry industry.

A seasoned metallurgist, Ramagaga has contributed to strengthening South Africa's manufacturing sector by enhancing foundry competitiveness through technical, localisation, policy advocacy, regulatory and environmental compliance support interventions. Yet Ramagaga measures success not by production output but by a sustainable industry, the number of companies that remain sustainable, the number of jobs created, and the number of young professionals who realise their potential. 

"Closing manufacturing companies is the last thing we as the NFTN want," she says. 

A Soweto native with experience in industry and academia, Ramagaga manages the sustainability program at the NFTN – the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) initiative-hosted programme by the CSIR. She holds a degree in Engineering Metallurgy and is a former research fellow at AGH University in Kraków, Poland.

The NFTN supports the competitiveness and sustainability of South Africa's foundry industry through innovation, resource efficiency and market development. These efforts contribute to industrial revitalisation and growth and advance the three D’s of the dtic’s economic strategy, namely diversification, decarbonisation and digitalisation.

Over the years at NFTN, Ramagaga has supported 46 companies and helped prevent the closure of 12 foundries through environmental regulatory compliance support intervention, contributing to the retention of about 450 jobs across the foundry industry. 

Among her proudest achievements is helping establish local capability for the internationally recognised Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU quality management system certification after South Africa's only certified foundry ceased operations. She also recalls supporting a small foundry that grew from employing just 19 people to more than 160 through productivity, resource efficiency improvements and advanced manufacturing technology development. In addition, Ramagaga led the automotive study for the 16 South African component manufacturer companies that identified opportunities for growth.

Her journey has been marked by obstacles. As one of the few experienced Black women in metallurgy, she entered male‑dominated spaces where physically demanding production roles were often considered unsuitable for women. Rather than let stereotypes define her, Ramagaga earned credibility through technical excellence, hands‑on experience and resilience.

"Do not be afraid to do the physically demanding work in the production plant," she advises. "That experience builds your technical foundation, which becomes important in your latter years. 

Although she admits that "doubt always visits," particularly when leading high-impact projects affecting businesses and livelihoods, she has learned not to let uncertainty define her decisions.

Equally important is her commitment to developing others. She takes the greatest pride in seeing women she has mentored grow into leadership roles, believing that creating opportunities for others is one of the most meaningful measures of success.

Inspired by women such as Dr Esther Mahlangu, whose authenticity and excellence have transcended boundaries, Ramagaga encourages young professionals to remain true to themselves.

"Never lose your uniqueness," she says. "Be unwavering in your ethics, both in your work and in how you treat people. Integrity will always outlast titles."

As South Africa marks Women’s Month, Ramagaga’s journey stands as a quiet yet powerful testament to what transformative leadership truly means. For Ramagaga, that has meant using her hard-won position to reshape the very culture of her industry: mentoring young women in metallurgy, insisting on inclusivity, and proving that technical credibility has nothing to do with gender.

Her story also reframes leadership as an act of collective uplift. In a country where manufacturing remains a cornerstone of economic growth, her work at the NFTN and her stewardship have ripple effects far beyond the foundry floor. Every company that stays open, every job that endures, and every graduate who sees a future in engineering are the metrics that matter to her. They are the building blocks of resilient industries, not in isolation, but as part of healthier communities that drive economic growth.

Ultimately, Women’s Month invites South Africans to celebrate individual achievements, but Ramagaga’s example urges us to look further: toward a resilient future built not by solitary heroes but by leaders who deliberately draw others into the circle. In her words and work, leadership is not a pedestal; it is a bridge. And that bridge, she shows us, is strongest when it carries many at once.