As a result of past constraints placed on the employment of women in the South African Mining Industry, both through legislative exclusion and as a result of attitudes and opinions, women are currently poorly represented in this important sector of our economy. Where women are employed in the industry, it is normally in non-underground occupations, i.e. in support services such as Administratin and Human Resources.

 

Over the number of years a scattering of women found their way into the South African mining industry. The first woman to qualify as a miner was Abrie de Viliers who obtained her blasting certificate at the East Rand Propriety Mines in 1999.

 

The South African Women in Mining Association (SAWIMA) was formed in 1999 and organised themselves in 2002 to support women entrepreneurs in the mining industry. SAWIMA approached the MQA for assisting them in their efforts by providing appropriate training programmes.

 

Even though the number of women operating as entrepreneurs in the South African Mining Industry is not known at this point in time it is believed that the number is very small and that interventions to support women entrepreneurs are therefore appropriate.

 

The training programmes will assist in generating interest in Mining and Mineral Sector as well as building basic mining knowledge for small-scale mining women. It is important to understand that although this programme is aimed at the needs of women in the Mining Industry, the MQA may extend it further to support the youth through programmes in future.