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It is critical for South Africa as a country to have women employed in senior positions. So many of our families are women headed and there is extensive evidence to support the social progress that is enabled by women earners in their contribution to households and communities. Beyond this, diversity in human capital is a resource to be leveraged. A resource that brings innovation, shared value, and inclusive business growth.

This is the manifestation of hope.

The People

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Ndivhuwo Lucy Nkosi Senior Engineer in Metallurgy at Exxaro (60 Sec)

Ndivhuwo Nkosi is senior engineer at Exxaro. And one whose experience of women in the industry is currently significantly different to what she was previously used to. Upon joining Exxaro, from the plant to the boardroom, Ndivhuwo was immediately struck by the number of women working there, doing what was historically considered a man’s role. She manages the plant and is passionate about her job. She has become awakened to the power that women bring to leadership in the company, from bold, strategic and wise decision making to forging collaborations, fostering communications and enabling employees to perform at their peak through development and a strong sense of support

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Hellen Rapetsa – Director and Shareholder at Africa Maintenance Equipment (60 Sec)

Helen Rapetsoa is an entrepreneur and a director and shareholder of Africa Maintenance Equipment. She is passionate about her business but also recognizes the stress and pressure of being responsible for all the expenses, salaries, bonuses and bills. As part of the enterprise and supplier development program at Exxaro, Helen has been able to grow the financial, business and personal skills she needs to manage and grow the company effectively. These skills have enabled her to seamlessly deliver on AME’s tools and bearing contract with Exxaro and to resourcefully look towards growing the business well beyond the Exxaro supply chain.

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Abigail Thulare  – CEO and Director of PBSA Logistics (60 Sec)

Abigail Thulare
 is the co-founder of PBSA Logistics and Consultants. The company has 5 trucks which transport coal for Exxaro. When they applied for the tender, they didn’t even own any trucks. With the nurturing support from Exxaro and a zero percent loan to fund their fleet, PBSA now employs 13 people and Abigail derives great personal satisfaction that she has been able to create these jobs. For our economy to grow, she wishes that more small businesses like hers get the ear and support of big business, and the step-up they need to get them going on the road to success

Corporate Overview

The Story

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It is critical for South Africa as a country to have women employed in senior positions. So many of our families are women headed and there is extensive evidence to support the social progress that is enabled by women earners in their contribution to households and communities. Beyond this, diversity in human capital is a resource to be leveraged. A resource that brings innovation, shared value, and inclusive business growth.

Exxaro recognises this need for diversity in the mining industry and in addition to shifting the gender balance within their mining and management teams, the company is also focused on making business opportunities available to aspiring and competent women entrepreneurs within the value chain of the mine, to help grow these SMES and in doing so, to stimulate local economic development.

SAINC visited Exxaro’s enterprise and supplier development programs to meet the inspiring women whose businesses are growing with input, training and support of their initiatives, as well as the procurement partnership opportunities it provides. From people and financial management, business administrations and understanding contracts, time management and email etiquette, the program equips business owners with tools they need to thrive. Beyond this engagement, Exxaro also provides access to interest free loans and grants to further enable these businesses to scale, operate and importantly create employment.

Mining communities generally work on a dependency ratio of 1 to 10. This means that for every business that is grown and sustained, the impact of each person employed by them is extensively more far-reaching. And when these businesses start to look for opportunities beyond mining in their communities, the potential for positive impact is extensive.

As a purpose-led business, Exxaro challenged themselves to think differently about development and social impact and how to approach it in a way that has mutual benefit, delivers shared value, and creates the virtuous circle of win-win that is in fact possible when business operates on the premise of good for business becoming good for society.

With 60 enterprises currently part of the program, Exxaro is committed to creating hope and making a difference as it continues to power possibilities.

The Gallery

On the job training with Imperial logistics
On the job training with Imperial logistics
Exxaro is recognised in the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index
Exxaro is recognised in the Bloomberg Gender Equality Index
PBSA Logistics in action
PBSA Logistics in action
 Africa Maintenance Equipment supplier warehouse
Africa Maintenance Equipment supplier warehouse
Sustainable coal mining
Sustainable coal mining

See Differently

#SAINC5

See Differently

#SAINC5

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