GENDER TRANSFORMATION IN MINING BY JESSIE TAYLOR
Women driving transformation in mining
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raditionally male-dominated, the mining industry has been under great pressure to shift towards gender inclusivity. While the industry may still have a long way to go, several women are taking up leadership positions within the mining sector, paving the way for greater gender equality.
According to the Minerals Council South Africa, women represent 12% of South Africa’s total mining labour force, with the number of women employed by the sector having increased from around 11 000 in 2002 to 56 000 in 2019. 17% of top leadership positions are held by women.
Mining is a key industry in South Africa, accounting for around half a million direct jobs, and the transformation of this industry will go a long way to improving South Africa’s gender equality goals.
To address the challenges faced by women in this sector, the Minerals Council has developed a task team to oversee gender transformation in the industry.
46 | Public Sector Leaders | August 2023
