WOMEN IN MINING CORPORATE PROFILE
LOCAL WOMENOWNED BUSINESSES
LEAD THE WAY FOR MENAR COMPANIES Menar is empowering businesswomen around South Africa one supplier at a time
M
enar’s group of mining companies – Canyon Coal, Kangra, Zululand Anthracite Colliery (ZAC) and Sitatunga Resources’ East Manganese – strongly support the principles of inclusivity and diversity, along with women suppliers. “Local women-owned suppliers are an important part of Menar’s procurement value chains,” says Menar group procurement manager Simon Andrews. He notes in particular that a key element of the mining logistics process is the hauling of coal from the mine to the nearby coal sidings, for the product to be delivered to the Richards Bay Coal Terminal, the Multi-purpose Terminal or the RBT Grindrod Terminal in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal.
HEROINES OF COAL HAULAGE
Canyon Coal works with several local, black women-owned coal haulage suppliers. These include QQS Engineers and Associates Consulting Engineers and Royal Pros Services. “This is in line with the company’s commitment to go beyond the transformation guidelines set out for the mining sector,” says Andrews, “with a strong focus on the development and empowerment of black women-owned companies, as well as youth-owned businesses.” QQS Engineers and Associates was established in 2008 by MD Lerato Mahlangu and has been transporting coal from Khanye Colliery in Bronkhorstspruit, Gauteng, since February 2021. She notes that she lived near mines and “owned a few trucks that were being used to transport goods around Gauteng, so it was a natural progression to diversify into coal transportation.” Mahlangu says companies like Canyon Coal play an important role in closing gaps between local companies and larger transportation businesses by integrating them into its supplier network. Her goal is to own a fleet of at least 20 trucks, operating across coal transportation and other sectors too.
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QQS Engineers and Associates’ Lerato Mahlangu.
Mumnkosi Projects and Services’ Cynthia Nkosi.
Thanodi Spares and Stationery’s Peggy Theo.
OZT Logistics’ Zinhle Zondi .
Bronkhorstspruit resident Joyce Maite Nkosi is a director at Royal Pros Services, which has transported coal from Khanye Colliery to the Bronkhorstspruit siding since March 2020. “My husband and I established the company in 2018,” says Nkosi, who plans to grow and add more trucks. “With the opportunity given to our company by Canyon Coal, our goal will definitely be accomplished.”
SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESS
Mumnkosi Projects and Services is a level 1 BEE, 100% black women-owned company located in Donkerhoek, Mpumalanga, that specialises in professional transport and construction solutions. Director Cynthia Nkosi is from the community near Kangra mine. Founded in 2014, the company has been providing cleaning, gardening and civil engineering services to Kangra since 2015. Nkosi says there are challenges in being a woman entrepreneur but it is also very rewarding. “I am committed to upskilling my employees through bursaries and sponsorships. We also support people with disabilities in Driefontein, by sponsoring
www.samining.co.za
them, cutting the grass at their institutions and providing cleaning services to them free of charge.” Thanodi Spares and Stationery is a level 1 BEE, 100% black women-owned company located in Kuruman, Northern Cape, that supplies cleaning materials to East Manganese. Director Pesalema Peggy Theo established the company in 2015 and now runs two shops. “I identified a gap in the market to provide essential services, including an internet café to cater for people from the surrounding villages, as well as stationery and furniture. I am happy that East Manganese supports me as a local business,” she states. OZT Logistics is a level 1 BEE-accredited, 100% black women-owned company based in Melmoth, KwaZulu-Natal. Director Zinhle Zondi says the company provides road maintenance services and supplies water tankers to ZAC, having worked with them since 2019. She advises women entrepreneurs to stay focused at all times. “You need to be aware that even though there will be obstacles in life and business, you mustn’t lose focus. If you do, you will lose money and profits, and everything will just go downhill.” ■
