Dorah Mfulwane is proving that women can build successful careers in one of South Africa's toughest and most physically demanding industries.

In 2005, she became one of the first South African women to join Red Graniti, a leading participant in the local granite industry and a global supplier of premium dimension stone, at a time when few women were given opportunities in the country’s dimension stone sector. Through perseverance, hard work and an unwavering commitment to continuous learning, Dorah has built a career that is redefining what is possible for women in mining.

Today, in her mid-50s, Dorah balances the demands of a successful professional career with her family responsibilities. Her family stood by her side and she continues to pursue new opportunities for personal and professional growth, proving that it is never too late to challenge yourself and strive for more.

From the rural village of Rankelenyane, Dorah learnt the value of education from an early age. Her parents encouraged their children to pursue opportunities through learning, a lesson that would shape her career.

After completing matric in 1989 she was employed by Tlhabane Sun Hotel as a cleaner. She worked as a cleaner while studying Human Resource Management at Rustenburg Technical College determined to create a better future for herself.

That determination led her to Red Graniti, where she accepted an opportunity that women had never had before. At the time, she knew very little about dimension stone mining and admits she was not immediately passionate about the industry. That changed as she learnt more about quarrying, the sophisticated processes involved and the many opportunities available. What began as a job soon developed into a genuine passion and a career she has now pursued for more than two decades.

Earning a place in mining

When Red Graniti recruited its first group of South African female employees in 2005, Dorah joined a team responsible for rehabilitating worked-out quarry areas – an important component of the company's environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitment to responsible mining. The work involved removing invasive vegetation and treating waste granite blocks in harsh conditions where encounters with snakes were not uncommon. Yet, despite the challenges, strict health and safety procedures underpinned every activity, reinforcing a safety-first culture that protected employees while ensuring rehabilitation was carried out responsibly.

Just eight months later, her strong work ethic and performance earned Dorah a transfer into the quarry itself, where an entirely new chapter of her career began.

Working alongside experienced miners, she learnt to operate a Freeway drilling rig machine, master different drill steels and bits, and drill perfectly aligned holes in granite. The work demanded technical precision, physical endurance and unwavering attention to safety.

“Learning to work independently in a male-dominated environment taught me to adapt quickly and persevere,” she recalls.

Working in an environment where women were still a rarity also meant that acceptance was never automatic. Dorah understood that she would have to prove herself through hard work, consistency and a willingness to learn. Over time, she earned the trust and respect of her male colleagues, demonstrating that she could meet the same demanding standards expected of every employee.

The value of high standards

Her determination and willingness to embrace every opportunity soon caught the attention of senior colleagues, who recognised in her a resilience and work ethic that set her apart.

Among them was Johan van Vuuren, who supervised her work in the quarry. Known for his uncompromising standards, he expected the same level of commitment, discipline and performance from every member of his team, regardless of gender. He did not believe in giving women special treatment – everyone was expected to earn their place through hard work and dedication.

“Johan was very strict,” Dorah says. “Whenever I made a mistake, he would tell me, “If you don’t want to work, you must go home.’”

At the time, she found his approach intimidating. However, as the months passed, Dorah came to realise that Van Vuuren’s high expectations reflected his leadership style rather than any bias against women. He challenged everyone equally, believing that maintaining high standards was the only way to build capable, confident professionals in a demanding mining environment.

Three months after she joined the quarry team, Van Vuuren called her aside.

“’Dorah, I was not treating you badly,’ he told me. ‘I was building your character. Against all odds, you have proven yourself to be strong.’”

Those words became a defining moment in Dorah’s career, reinforcing her belief that perseverance and hard work would always outweigh doubt or prejudice.

When Van Vuuren later left Red Graniti, he entrusted Dorah with one of his most treasured possessions – a personal Afrikaans Bible, given to him by his late mother before he left for military service.

“He told me to believe in myself,” she says. “I still have that Bible at home.”

For Dorah, the gift remains a powerful reminder that great leaders also build confidence, resilience and character.

A journey that continues

Her potential continued to attract the attention of the company’s leadership. In 2010, General Manager Jan Fick discovered that Dorah had completed an N6 Diploma in Human Resource Management and recognised that her abilities extended far beyond the quarry floor. He encouraged her to pursue a career in occupational health and safety, opening the door to a new chapter that combined her practical mining experience with specialist technical knowledge.

Dorah embraced the opportunity with the same determination that had defined her career from the beginning. She completed numerous industry qualifications, including ASHEPP, HIRA, SAMTRAC and COMSOC Levels 1 and 2, while learning from experienced safety practitioners and engineers who continued to guide her professional development.

Rather than focusing on her own accomplishments, Dorah credits the people who challenged her, invested in her potential and encouraged her to keep learning.

“I have learned to stand on the shoulders of giants,” she says. “They will not let you fall; instead, they will lift you to the level they want you to be.”

Although she has already achieved more than many could have imagined, Dorah says her journey is far from over. Her ambition is to become a mine manager, and she continues to pursue every opportunity to broaden her knowledge and develop the skills needed to achieve that goal.

Her passion for developing people extends beyond the workplace. Every week, she mentors women through her local church, Rivers of Love and Grace, encouraging them to pursue education, believe in themselves and never allow circumstances to define their future. For Dorah, helping others realise their potential is one of the most rewarding aspects of her own journey.

Committed to its people

Dorah’s story is also a reflection of Red Graniti's long standing commitment to investing in its people and creating opportunities for employees to grow through continuous learning and development.

“As a provider of adult literacy and numeracy training to Red Graniti, we have been able to witness first-hand the company’s unwavering commitment to developing its employees and creating opportunities for personal and professional growth. Dorah’s journey is a powerful example of what can be achieved when employees embrace lifelong learning and companies invest in developing its people,” concludes Marco Maree, Training & Development Expert at Triple E Training.