Mining Sector Has an Obligation to Fight Gender-Based Violence

Dec 8, 2021 | Nolitha Fakude
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The Minerals Council SA and our member companies are well aware that we operate in a context and climate where sexual harassment and gender-based violence (GBV) are not isolated incidents but are pervasive and present across SA. We know the gendered nature of the mining industry may mean that we have additional challenges to face in this regard. We are also absolutely clear that this is a state of affairs that is to be deplored, and that we are obliged to fight against it at every opportunity and without objection or equivocation.

As part of the Minerals Council Women in Mining (WiM) initiative, our teams are addressing the nature of the challenges the industry faces when it comes to sexual harassment and GBV and developing approaches that allow us to effectively address these. We are not so naive as to suggest we will be in a position to eradicate sexual harassment and GBV in the industry. Rather, we are  looking to play a role wherever and whenever possible in addressing its causes, developing education and prevention campaigns, engaging with our employees (who, because they are mainly men, may be perpetrators whether at work, at home or in the community), and supporting victims and survivors.