Women urged to take ownership of mining, energy opportunities

By Charmaine Ndlela

African Energy and Economic Youth Council (AEEYC) Chairwoman Dieketseng Nzhadzhaba has called on South African women to take ownership of emerging opportunities in mining, energy, infrastructure, manufacturing and technology rather than waiting to be invited into established value chains.

Nzhadzhaba was speaking on Thursday at a Women’s Month event hosted by AEEYC and Black Business Council in the Built Environment (BBCBE) Youth at the Rand Club in Johannesburg.

The event, themed “Women Powering the Value Chain: Mining, Energy and the Next Industrial Frontier”, brought together industry leaders, professionals and young entrepreneurs to discuss women’s participation and ownership in key sectors of the economy.

Nzhadzhaba said South Africa was entering a period of significant economic change, with opportunities emerging in critical minerals, renewable energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, technology and logistics.

She said the question was no longer whether opportunities existed, but who would own them.

“We are no longer