VOICED : S African female miners break ground for their gender

The video discusses the challenges and progress of women working in South African mines. Initially, women faced resistance and discrimination, but since the lifting of the apartheid-era ban in 1996, their presence has grown to 15% of the workforce. Women are valued for their skills, especially in equipment operation. However, safety concerns, including sexual harassment, remain significant. Measures like surveillance and biometric identification have been implemented to improve safety. Despite these challenges, women like Zuko and Bennys aspire to become mine overseers, a role once deemed impossible for them.

What was the initial reaction of male workers towards women entering the mining industry?

• They were supportive and welcoming.

• They were resistant and unwelcoming.

• They were curious and eager to help.

• They were indifferent and uninterested.

Since when have women been allowed to work in South African mines?

• Since 1986

• Since 1996

• Since 2006

• Since 2016

What roles are women particularly valued for in the mining industry?

• Marketing roles

• Security roles

• Administrative roles

• Equipment operation

What safety measures were implemented to protect female miners?

• Surveillance cameras and biometric identification

• Increased lighting

• Hiring more security personnel

• Providing personal safety alarms

What career aspirations do Zuko and Bennys have in the mining industry?

• To become safety officers

• To work in the administrative department

• To start their own mining company

• To become mine overseers