MINING IN FOCUS
Barred from mining
The South African Minerals Act of 1991 legally prohibited
women from working underground. However, there were
no laws that prevented them from working in mines above
ground, so a few women chose to do so.
Working underground is dangerous and requires extensive
physical training. As a result, mining has always been a
male-dominated sector. Women were considered physically
incapable of working in the mining industry as they
were seen as weaker than men. It was believed that
certain mining methods could only be carried out by
males. Add to that the high temperature in a mine, and
women were ruled out completely.
As bizarre as it sounds, women were labelled as bad
luck if they stepped foot in a coal mine.
Defying the odds
Before women were allowed to work underground, one
brave woman challenged legal, physical and social norms
when she left her home in search of a better life. Pili Hussein
grew up in Tanzania in a large family. Her father, who was a
livestock keeper, owned many farms. He often treated Pili like
a boy, leaving her in charge of some of the livestock. “I didn’t
like that life at all,” says Pili.
Mandlakazi Semani, the first black
plant manager at Kumba Iron Ore’s
Kolomela mine in the Northern
Cape province of South Africa.
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African Mining October 2019
www. africanmining.co.za