WOMEN IN MINING
Leading ladies in mining, construction and engineering Mining, construction and engineering are closely related fields that are still mainly dominated by men. Despite this, there are women who are breaking barriers and making a name for themselves through passion, hard work and determination. Please share what it is you do. TR I am a technical enablement site leader. I am mainly responsible for empowering SMMEs in the mining industry. Most SMMEs in mining are not recognised; some are also not empowered. TK My job title is project technical assistant for the design, construction, installation and commissioning of PGM processing plant projects. My job entails reporting directly to the engineering head of department, assisting in managing the office of the owner’s team, facilitating the drafting and approval of engineering and process designs, as well as assuming the roles of a junior process engineer.
Theo Kokota believes that it is important for mining companies have a moral obligation to enhance female representation in the industry
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How did your mining career start? TR After doing my diploma in non-destructive testing at Vaal University of Technology, I got an internship at Eskom. I was working as a contractor there for a while and enjoyed engineering, then I jumped over to mining where my potential grew and my love and passion for mining was cultivated. During this transition, I enhanced my academics to be a better fit for the mining industry as a whole. I then further studied quality and advanced project management and for my BTech. TK I started at the University of Johannesburg by enrolling for an engineering metallurgy course in 2010. After completing my studies in 2014, I received an opportunity to be part of an internship training programme for one year at Bakubung Platinum Mine in Rustenburg. The mine was still under a feasibility study for the construction of a PGM processing plant. As part of the internship programme, I participated in process development, plant piloting and designs at Mintek, and I am proud to say that all the project deliverables were completed successfully.
Dineo Phoshoko speaks to Tsholofelo Candy Rathebe (TR) and Theo Kokota (TK) – both from COENG Consulting and Construction Engineers – as they share their experiences of being women in the mining industry.
Has this always been something you’ve wanted to do? TR Yes. I remember when I went to varsity and my physics marks were bad, I never believed I would be accepted; however, I never lost sight of what was really important – I focused on getting that engineering degree because I’ve always believed I‘m stronger than I look. TK Most definitely! When I chose this career and got to learn all the theory in varsity, I formed a clear picture of my career objectives. Can you mention some challenges you’ve faced in your career so far? TR I have experienced sexism in the industry and sexual harassment is quite prevalent because it is a maledominated field. You also get underestimated quite often by both men and women in this industry. TK The first challenge was being a newbie in the industry and hoping for things to work out in time. This can be prolonged, as a lot of people take long to warm up to your presence and technical inputs as a female engineer in a male-dominated industry. Concurrently, I realised that if you are new to the job, many perceive you to have lack of crucial technical experience until you prove otherwise. How did you overcome such challenges? TR With such challenges, the only thing you can do is persevere. You have to stand your ground and I believe that you cannot sell something that you do not believe in. So, if you don’t believe in yourself as a person, it’s hard for you to overcome anything. One must also understand that not every day will be the same. TK What got me through is understanding that I cannot make anyone do anything they are unwilling to do of their own accord. It is a professional environment, and we all have responsibilities and deliverables to achieve. Focusing on that and seeking assistance from those who are willing got me through. I told myself that I need to be committed to achieving as little as my daily deliverables
