This Women’s Month, we catch up with University of Pretoria (UP) alumna Nozipho Dlamini, the first woman president of the South African Colliery Managers’ Association (SACMA).

Dlamini holds a Bachelor of Engineering, (2008), Bachelor of Engineering (Hons), (2011), and a Master of Engineering, (2013) from UP and has been in the coal mining industry for more than 14 years. In addition to her role as president, she works as a technical services manager, overseeing eight departments. “I love the variety and the impact that my job has, not just at work, but also in society,” she says. “I get to influence the decisions we make about rehabilitation and closure plans, and how they impact society and the environment.”

SACMA ensures the knowledge transfer of coal industry best practices and facilitates networking between major stakeholders and its members and affiliates.

It was SACMA’s vision that prompted Dlamini to aim for the position of president. “I was intentionally working on it since joining SACMA in 2013,” she says. “It did not happen by chance – it was through hard work and dedication. In 2015, I became vice-chairperson of the northern region, which is the Mpumalanga region. I was then chairperson for two years, during which time, I had my heart set on being president. When I was finally inaugurated, I was proud of the hard work and effort that I put in to achieve my goal.”

Leadership, she adds, is a complex yet fulfilling endeavour. It comes with learning to communicate better, being empathetic, being inspiring and gaining your team’s trust. These are some of the critical attributes you learn from mentoring and coaching.

She says being a woman in the mining industry comes with some difficulties. “Some of the challenges women face in the workplace include a lack of mentoring and coaching. Companies can abate this by setting up structured mentoring programs that ensures all young talent is supported. Also, particularly in the early years of your career, a lot of time is required of you, so you need to put in the hours (and overtime). Balancing that with family roles can be a bit tough. That is why having a good supportive structure at home is a success factor to women thriving in their careers.”

For Dlamini, being a woman in South Africa today is infinitely more liberating than what it used to be. “We have a choice to become anything and be great in whatever field of work we choose. Women are embracing their independence; they are accepting themselves and making big strides in their careers and home lives. We now have an undeniable voice and influence.

She says that while many women are graduating with science degrees, the challenge arises when it comes to employment retention. “Companies have a lot of work to do in retaining women. Many women are passionate about science, but companies need to create empowering and enabling environments for these women to thrive. Therefore coaching and mentoring is key.”

Companies also need to ensure that the environment is conducive for growth so that women can get to the top of an organisation, she adds. “If you want to grow into a leadership role, you need to put in a lot of work and hours,” Dlamini says. “But when all is said and done, you need support.”

Her advice to women is this: “Ensure that you have people you look up to so they can guide, coach and mentor you. Also take an interest in wanting to learn and know more. Invest in external self-development and further your studies if necessary.”