Mpumalanga Business 2019/20 edition

INTERVIEW
Fast making strides in mining
Mpumalanga Business spoke with two trailblazing miners who
work at Exxaro’s Leeuwpan Coal Mine, Johanne Struwig and
Bontle Mtshengu. Plant Manager Struwig was a finalist in the
Top Young Achiever of the Year category of the 2019 Standard
Bank Top Women of the Year awards, while Engineering
Manager Mtshengu won the award in the category, Top Gender
Empowered Organisation: Resources.
Bontle Mtshengu
BIOGRAPHY
Bontle’s 18-year journey in
mining has encompassed
iron ore, minerals sands,
gold, platinum and now coal.
Her promotion in 2017 to
Engineering Manager, where
she now leads a team of more
than 200, made her the first
female to hold that post in
Exxaro. She started her career
as a mechanical technician
and worked her way up to
become an engineer. She
has a Government Certificate
of Competency (GCC) mines
and works, and a diploma in
mechanical engineering and is
studying for a BTech.
How did you choose mining as a career?
BM: Born in a rural small village called Cassel in the Northern
Cape, my mother was a teacher in a primary school and my dad
a truck operator in one of the mines. I found myself in a boarding
school 700km away from home and coincidentally landed in a
class with technical subjects in Grade 9. I fell in love with subjects
like technical drawing and electricity. Mining became a natural
choice when I was given an opportunity to do in-service training
in one of the mining houses and thereafter received a bursary.
JS: I think the mining industry chose me. I initially studied in the
chemistry field. After I got a bursary from Exxaro, I started to work in
mining and fell in love with operations and the culture.
When did you know this was a good choice?
BM: I eventually got exposed to maintenance management
environment and truly fell in love with that. The training I received
was remarkable. When I acquired the government certificate of
competency (GCC) is when I knew I had made a good choice: having
that legal appointment and seeing one’s contribution to the industry
is the most satisfying feeling.
JS: On Leeuwpan mine, I have had the opportunity to be involved
in value chain operations from a technical point of view as well as
business. I fell in love with the adrenaline of operations, the pride of
mobilising people and overcoming a very challenging environment.
Did you encounter obstacles on your mining career path?
BM: Most women were recruited into positions and left there to fend
for themselves. Basic needs like sanitary facilities, personal protective
equipment (PPE) and safety underground were not available for
women. Men were not made ready for this change. It was a shock
to everyone.
JS: I was privileged that Leeuwpan created a positive environment
for my development. I had to learn through tough mistakes how to
develop emotional intelligence. I started out trying to conform and
it was only after I showed my own identity and being OK with that,
that I really flourished.
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