Nombi Mawela – a career jump-started by Northam Platinum

Nombi is from Ledig, near Sun City in North West Province. Along with ten others her application to the Zondereinde Young Women’s Bursary Project in 2010 was successful.

The aim of the Project is to create a pipeline of qualified and talented African women for Northam, to widen the pool of available labour, and to increase female participation in industry.

Nombi began a BSc in Mining Engineering at Wits University then switched to a National Diploma in Mining Engineering at the University of Johannesburg. She became a Northam ‘Learner’ in 2019 then gained a BTech in Mining Engineering, a Diploma, a Supervisor Certificate in Mining, and her Blasting Ticket from the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy. She is working on a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from University of North West Business School.

Nombi was promoted to Mining Supervisor in October 2021, she is clearly up for a challenge. Her advice to others is:

Women should believe in themselves, especially in careers and education. Have positive aspirations and a spirit of determination: when an opportunity presents itself, embrace it!

Poppy Mohlala – a professional millwright in the making

Poppy is from Maandagshoek, in Limpopo Province. She studied Electrical Engineering at DC Phatudi College in 2004, then joined a large mining corporation as a trainee in 2010 followed by a millwright apprenticeship there, which she completed in 2015.

She joined Northam Booysendal as a Trackless Mining Machinery (TMM) Assistant and then a Millwright; she was offered a permanent employment contract in 2019, and she was recently promoted to Master Artisan in 2021.

I am the only woman at Central TMM; I believe in myself and I know that I am capable of achieving great things. As Master Artisan, I enjoy taking on various challenges, especially in the workshop and I am excited about improving my skills, and furthering my studies. I see myself working in management at Booysendal in future!