Anglo American Platinum’s section engineer, Nditsheni Ramovha, has managed to break major barriers to bring her dream job in mining to life. Nditsheni entered the world of mining in 2010 through government’s Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA).
Upon completing her studies in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Johannesburg, Nditsheni joined Anglo American Platinum for a year, and that helped her launch her career in Mechanical Engineering. Nditsheni, now based at Anglo American’s Richard Shaft, at Union Mine in Swartklip says her role as section engineer has been a dream come true.
Nditsheni says, “Pursuing a career in engineering has always been my dream and now I’m living that dream. Mining is seen as dangerous, rough and remote, but as a woman in mining I feel like I’m contributing towards changing this perception and showing women out there that we too can do it.”
She adds that she is still amazed at how far she’s come from the first time she set foot at the mine. “My first time underground was an experience I’ll never forget. When I first came here, I knew nothing about mining as I am a Joburg girl. It was pretty scary in the beginning, in fact, I didn’t want to go underground at all. However, it has become so normal and I can proudly say I can now spend hours underground.”
Today, Nditsheni’s daily routine includes ensuring that the mine is adequately resourced, that the safety standards are adhered to, managing and avoiding breakdowns that are likely to negatively impact the mine’s productivity, and preparing her team every day before the day gets underway.
“I am responsible for the plant and the safety of all employees at the plant. Many times my responsibilities required me to work late so balancing work and family life is hard at times, but my job is fulfilling as it has allowed me to grow as a person – to be a confident leader. I never knew I had these skills but now I am accountable for the plant and the people that work there,” she says.
Breaking the gender barrier
As a young, dynamic and enthusiastic individual, she believes that more women should get into mining, especially if they want to do something different and out of the ordinary. “It’s quite noticeable that women are under-represented in the mining industry. In meetings, sometimes I’m the only female and this needs to change. There needs to be more females in managerial and supervisory positions, but the industry is moving forward so I can definitely see this on the horizon.”
There is a growing demand for women to join and build their careers in mining, and Nditsheni says today women are empowered with opportunities to achieve success, and generations before now, this was only a distant dream. “For women to thrive and succeed in this field they need confidence and passion because it is a tough environment - and there will be days where you feel like throwing in the towel, but if you stick it out, it’s a very rewarding career.”
“Through historic hardships and challenges women have grown stronger, resilient and more focussed. We know what want, what we need and how to get there. We know what we need to do to change this world for future generations. Engineering is a career that allows women to explore this, so ladies let’s explore,” Nditsheni concludes.
To read more about Anglo American’s commitment to a transformed mining industry and nation, download the latest Transformation Report (http://bit.ly/1L9lfE2).