Opportunity Issue 102

WOMEN IN ENERGY Gender

WOMEN IN ENERGY Gender strategy In August 2021, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy launched the Women Empowerment and Gender Equality (WEGE) Strategy, which is aimed at ensuring that women become active participants in the energy sector. The strategy has a five-year implementation plan with specific deliverables. One of the first things to be rolled out in terms of the strategy was the Gender Ministerial Council which will give regular report backs on progress made in terms of the plan. Members of the council are drawn from a wide cross-section of society, including owners of private companies, agency officials, industry associations, academics, civil society organisations, women in energy associations and civil servants. Speaking at the launch of the WEGE Strategy, DMRE Minister Gwede Mantashe highlighted the need to harness the unused potential of women as an important economic and social driver for more inclusive and sustainable development. He noted that in South Africa, the number of women represented in the energy sector is still very much in the minority, despite evidence that shows that companies with more than 33% woman leadership tend to have a net profit margin over 10 times greater than those without. Minister Mantashe argued that securing the role of women in the energy sector is not only an economic necessity but also a constitutionally-protected right. To support this position, the Department has taken steps to create an enabling environment for all South African women to participate in and benefit economically from the energy sector. The Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Strategy will be supported by following four strategic pillars: • Enabling environment: for translating government commitment to gender equality into reality • Equality of opportunities: within the DMRE, SOEs, the energy sector and broader society • Gender mainstreaming: gender considerations to be integrated into policies, programmes and projects • Barrier-free workplaces: promote new attitudes, values, behaviours and a culture of respect for all human beings in the sector Women at the DMRE The DMRE itself has several women in important positions. These include: Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, Deputy Minister Dr Nkabane has been Deputy Minister since 6 August 2021. She has a Bachelor of Administration Honours degree in Public Administration, a Master of Administration in Public Administration and a Doctorate of Administration from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She has also studied compliance management, executive development and has a post-graduate diploma in labour law. Ditsietsi Morabe, Acting Chief Financial Officer Ditsietsi Morabe provides financial administrative support to the Department. Ntokozo Ngcwabe, Deputy Director-General Ntokozo Ngcwabe is responsible for Policy, Global Relations and Investment Promotion and has 22 years of experience in the minerals and energy sector. Her responsibilities include promoting investments into the entire value chain in both mining and energy and building and growing partnerships in the two industries. Adv Mmadikeledi Malebe, Deputy Director-General Mmadikeldi Malebe is responsible for regulating the minerals and mining sector to promote economic growth, employment, transformation and sustainable development, as well as administration of prospecting rights, mining rights, mining permits and compliance with the MPRDA, including environmental management. Patricia Gamede, Deputy Director-General Patricia Gamede is in charge of Corporate Services, whose brief is to enable the department to deliver on its mandate by providing strategic support management services and administrative support. Elizabeth Marabwa, Chief Director Elizabeth Marabwa works as Chief Director: Programme and Projects Management Office. She has experience in the international energy arena, and has worked with the IEA, UN, CEM, SADC and other governments in Africa. DMRE DDG: Ntokozo Ngcwabe

WOMEN IN ENERGY South African women in oil and gas Although the overall number of women in senior positions in the energy sector is small, there are dynamic and successful women making a major impact in the industry. Among them are the women who were invited speakers at a “Women in Energy” DMRE webinar entitled “Empowering women to take part in the energy sector during Covid-19”. Two of the participants, Elizabeth Marabwa of the DMRE and Dr Phindile Masangane, PASA CEO, have already been profiled. The other women presenters were: Zakithi Zama is General Manager of iMbokodo Exploration and Production (Pty) Ltd. She has over 25 years’ experience in public and government affairs, with more than 15 years' involvement in various leadership roles in extractive industries. In her previous roles, she managed complex stakeholder issues and successfully created and promoted coexistence strategies, critical for sustainable development. Her previous roles include Community Affairs Manager at PetroSA; Public and Government Affairs Manager of ExxonMobil Exploration and Production South Africa; Stakeholder Relations Manager at the Minerals Council South Africa and Regional Corporate Affairs Manager for Tronox South Africa. Zakithi holds a Master of Business Leadership (MBL) from the Graduate School of Business Leadership and a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from the University of South Africa. Nosizwe Nokwe-Macamo has had success in leading strategy and directing substantial operations and projects. Nosizwe is the Founding Owner of Raise Africa Investments, a business which focuses on investment in niche manufacturing companies. She also provides strategic advisory services to companies in the oil and gas industry. As one of the first African female petrochemical engineers in South Africa, she has more than two decades of experience and has served both as a non-executive director and as an executive director on the boards of major companies. Nosizwe is an alumnus of Moscow State University of Oil and Gas Russia (MSc Petrochemical Engineering), Baku Oil and Gas Academy Azerbaijan (Diploma Oil and Gas Refining), INSEAD (International Management Certificate), GIBS (Global Executive Development Programme) and Wits (Certificate in Finance and Accounting). Lungelwa Tyali is co-founder and CEO of Solar Turtle SA (above) and has a background in marketing and communication. For six years she was a Vice President at Ericsson Telecom and was responsible for expanding Ericsson into the Sub-Saharan market. She has worked for Airports Company South Africa and Gold Reef City. With the assistance of the Department of Science and Technology, she is engaged in project that will see the informal sector using the latest technology in such a way that street vendors will be able to charge all their devices and cashless transactions will be enhanced. Kiren Maharaj (above) has almost 20 years’ experience at strategic, operational and management levels. As an executive at Eskom, she was involved in several major projects and for six years directed the safe and effective production of electricity from over 14 000MW of coal-fired power generation. She served as a Divisional Executive of Eskom Holdings SOC Limited and serves as an executive and non-executive for several South African companies. This includes a role as a lead independent director of one of South Africa’s largest independent power producers. Kiren has founded start-up ventures that further empowerment and transformation in both the management consulting and energy sectors. She is currently the Managing Director of GIBB Power (Pty) Ltd. Since 2016 she has served as a member of the SANEA Executive Committee Board and was elected Chairman in 2019. www.opportunityonline.co.za | 13