Pretoria - Mineral Resources Minister Susan Shabangu has praised the calibre of women in South Africa's economy, particularly the mining industry, saying they have accomplished a lot in a relatively short period.
Speaking on Friday at the Australia - African Women in Mining and Development Leadership Forum, Shabangu noted that the representation of women in the industry remained comparatively insignificant compared to their male counterparts, but a handful of women had already demonstrated commendable progress, with the numbers growing steadily.
"It is proper to salute these champions of change, whose commitment and work will go down in history, as the political champions of 1956 in South Africa did," Shabangu said.
However, Shabangu raised concern over the challenges facing women in the mining industry, including health and safety matters, and the sustainability of the industry. The number of reported incidents of women miners experiencing harassment and inhumane treatment by fellow workers in their underground workplaces was a huge concern for Shabangu.
"No woman should experience any sort of intimidation in the workplace ... It is the responsibility of all to take appropriate action, including enforced regulatory action, to ensure that all workers have a safe and dignified work environment, that their right to the sanctity of life and limb is protected and that they are able to return home to their loved ones daily."
The minister said the readiness of the mining workplace to accommodate women's needs must be accelerated as part of the "normalisation" of the industry.
"Personal protective equipment for women is still lagging behind. Over the years, there were no adjustments to such designs to meet the needs of female workers within the mining sector. Collaboration of government with mining social partners to improve skills development and also to increase the participation of women at all levels is absolutely critical."
In the first wave of implementing the Mining Charter, government set a target of 10% women representation in mining. The revised charter is emphatic about demographic representation, which effectively means that women should enjoy 52% representation at all levels of the mining industry over time.
Meanwhile, Shabangu on Friday also noted the resignation of Anglo American CEO Cynthia Carroll.
"Ms Carroll has served the South African mining industry with distinction and has decided that it is time to move on for her. She has been with Anglo for five years already and needed a new challenge.
"Together with her departure comes a new opportunity for someone else who we hope will be a local person that will continue to contribute to the transformation of our industry and who will have our interest as a country at heart.
"We wish her well for her future endeavours and hope to continue working with the company in the same spirit of tripatism as we build and grow the South African mining sector," said Shabangu.
The company has said in a statement that Carroll will remain in her post until a successor has been appointed and an "appropriate transition has taken place".
The company will begin looking for a successor and will be led by chairman Sir John Parker. - SAnews.gov.za
