What has changed for women in mining in 22 years?
There have been some wins and many losses for women in mining since the historic march in 1956. Tholakele Nene assesses the situation in Women’s month 2017
On August 9 1956 more than 50,000 South African women from all walks of life staged a march at the Pretoria Union buildings protesting against proposed amendments to the pass law, formally known as the Urban Areas Act of 1950. They chanted struggle songs cheering each other on. These 50,000-plus women were taking a stand against the undermining of human rights, women’s rights and restoring dignity to a nation that was divided by the apartheid regime.
This selfless act is the reason we celebrate women’s month in August every year. We do it to pay homage to the fearless women of 1956 whose courage and strength has opened doors for women in sectors that were once out of reach, including the mining sector. Prior to the revised mining laws of 1994 onwards, it was unheard of for women to be working underground as miners. The shift in policy that requires 10% of a mine’s workforce to be female has created a window of hope for women interested in mining.
A recent publication, Women in Mining, Fact sheet 2017 by the Chamber of Mines of South Africa, states that “the number of women working in the mining sector has increased significantly in the last 15 years or so — from around 11,400 in 2002 to around 57,800 in 2015. Women now represent 13% of people in the mining industry.”
The Department of Labour Employment Equity report 2015/6 featured in the fact sheet shows that women are not only being included in underground mining but also in senior management roles. The report shows that the number of women employees in senior management roles is currently recorded at 789 out of a total of 5,141 total industry employees.
However, despite the strides being made to include women in mining, there is still work to be done to make the industry all-inclusive. As our investigation into gender-based violence in South African mines showed, there is work to be done on problems ranging from the redesigning of protective gear, to implementing stronger safety measures underground and above ground, and teaching men to rethink the role of women in society to see them as colleagues and not sexual objects.
With all the attention focused on re-envisioning the mining industry to include female workers, the cries of women in mining-affected communities should not be ignored. In our work with mining-affected communities we have heard women complain about empty promises of employment after being relocated, living under collapsing roofs as a result of mine blasts nearby, and falling victim to rape when travelling long distances to acquire water for livelihood. In this video, women from mining-affected communities talk about their daily struggles as women affected by mining.
When we talk about women’s rights, we must not forget these women who live harsh realities daily and still find the courage to smile and to hope for a better future. When we talk about the rights of women in mining, we include women in mining-affected communities who say they have been failed by the policies and laws designed to improve their lives, such as social and labour plans. They are failed by a government and companies unwilling to uphold these laws when it comes to environmental and social violations.
When you hear the stories told by the widows of Marikana, you realise that there is so much more that needs to be done to ensure the safety and security of all women in all sectors.
As women’s month draws to a close in 2017, we call on all sectors in South Africa, particularly mining, to help create a just and fair work environment for women. We ask that women be given a platform to thrive. We ask that their right to dignity be protected. We ask for women in mining-affected communities to stand up for their rights, and to continue to fight for the better life that was promised to them.
Happy women’s month.
Tholakele Nene is an Associate of Oxpeckers Investigative Environmental Journalism and manager of the #MineAlert app, which helps users identify and track mining applications and licences across South Africa
