Matshidiso Gama, A Standard Bank Top Women Young Achiever
By Shumirai Chimombe
The Standard Bank Top Women Awards 2024 is one of South Africa’s most prestigious celebrations of women’s leadership and excellence. And the Top Women Young Achiever Award was presented to Matshidiso Gama, a mining engineer at Kumba Iron Ore.
The awards honoured women who have made remarkable contributions to their industries, communities, and beyond. Matshidiso, a section manager: Drill & Blast at Kumba Iron Ore, is making her mark in her industry.
She completed her mining engineering degree at the University of Johannesburg, and also holds a diploma in explosive engineering from the University of Pretoria. She then completed her postgraduate diploma and MBA with GIBS Business School.
In the years that she has spent in the mining industry, she has gained experience in both underground and opencast mining in various commodities, platinum, coal and currently in iron ore. She has taken on roles mainly in the production stream, managing large teams and ensuring the safe execution of production.
In a male-dominated world, she has taken on roles such as shift boss, mine overseer, production manager and currently as section manager: Drilling and Blasting in one of the biggest mines in Africa. Her team is made up of drilling and blasting engineers and technicians who are responsible for the design and compliance for all blasts at the mine, ensuring safe execution and meeting desired outcomes of the blasts.
Matshidiso’s desire to be an example in leading mining women began when she was part of the Mining Forum at the University of Johannesburg, and as its Chairperson she worked together with institutions and mining houses to help students get practical training and bursaries before completing their studies.
Her passion to make a difference further grew when she started her career and became part of various women-led forums which focused on the development of women within the mining industry. These organisations from various mining companies collaborate to create a safe and conducive working environment for all women working within the industry. This meant working together with the Department of Mineral Resources, employers and unions to address underlying concerns that women have within the workplace, including creating safe working conditions, hygiene, mentorship, and women representation and development.
Matshidiso also provides mentorship to high school students within her community, giving them career guidance and ensuring that they gain insight on how to navigate the university world.
She has a very impressive list of portfolios that she has held including being a Women in Mining Deputy Chairperson, addressing women development, inclusion and diversity within different levels of management in mining, ensuring that women are given fair opportunities and equal representation in the workforce.
Matshidiso’s track record in all her roles has placed her as one of the few emerging young black females in the industry who show the potential to reach greater heights. She is among the few in the mining industry who have broken stereotypes around females taking on traditionally male-dominated roles. She has remained focused on ensuring that she remains a role model and an example to those who come after her.
Looking to the future, she hopes to continue to inspire and bring about change within her community and at work. She always encourages young children to go to school and get an education, read more books and empower themselves with knowledge. She believes in the notion that “Change begins with me – that if I want to see change in the world, I must be the change.”
