Honouring women who shape communities: Celebrating Women’s Month with the Mineworkers Development Agency

Every August, South Africa commemorates Women’s Month, paying tribute to the courage, resilience, and leadership of women past and present.

It is a time to reflect not only on the historic 1956 Women’s March to the Union Buildings, but also on the everyday acts of determination that continue to move our nation forward.

For the Mineworkers Development Agency (MDA), this month holds special meaning. Women remain at the heart of our development efforts, shaping families, sustaining livelihoods, and building stronger communities in mining towns and rural areas across the country.

Women at the Heart of Resilience

The mining industry has long been male-dominated, yet it is often women who shoulder the hidden costs of mining communities.

When mines close or retrench workers, women become the backbone of survival. They find ways to stretch meagre resources, put food on the table, and keep households afloat.

They step into leadership roles in communities, mobilizing neighbours around food gardens, cooperatives, and self-help groups.

At MDA, we have witnessed this resilience firsthand. Whether through small-scale farming, sewing projects, or micro-enterprises, women in our programmes demonstrate incredible ingenuity.

They are not waiting for change they are making it happen. 

Women Driving Economic Empowerment

A key focus of the MDA is to ensure that women are not left behind in development opportunities. In many of our projects, women make up the majority of participants.

From agricultural training to cooperative development, they are transforming skills into sustainable livelihoods. For example, in our agro-processing initiatives in Marikana Agri-Hub, women are leading the way in turning local produce into market-ready goods.

These enterprises not only provide income but also improve food security in vulnerable communities. Sewing and textile cooperatives run by women are producing school uniforms, protective clothing, and household items, proving that economic empowerment begins when women are given the tools and platforms to thrive.

By supporting women with skills training, access to resources, and mentorship, the MDA is not only improving household incomes but also fostering dignity and independence. Women who once relied solely on remittances from mineworkers are now business owners, job creators, and community leaders.

Leadership in Action

Women’s leadership often takes different forms sometimes quiet and nurturing, other times bold and outspoken. What remains constant is its impact. Within our projects, women are leading cooperatives, serving as trainers, and mentoring younger participants.

They model what it means to uplift others while advancing themselves.

The MDA is strengthened by a dynamic team of women who bring not only high academic credentials but also a wealth of industry experience in the socio-economic development space.

Their leadership, expertise, and innovative approaches ensure that programs are inclusive, impactful, and responsive to the needs of diverse communities. By combining academic rigor with practical know-how, these professionals drive sustainable growth while championing gender equity and social transformation.

This year’s Women’s Month theme, “Accelerating Socio-Economic Opportunities for Women’s Empowerment,” speaks directly to the work being done in mining communities.

When women are empowered, entire communities benefit. Children are better cared for, households are more stable, and local economies are revitalised.

Celebrating Everyday Heroes

As we celebrate Women’s Month, the MDA honors the everyday heroes who may never make headlines but whose influence is deeply felt. They are the grandmothers raising orphaned grandchildren, the mothers waking before sunrise to tend crops, the young women using their education to uplift others, and the cooperative members who persist despite challenges.

Their contributions echo the spirit of the women of 1956 who declared: “You strike a woman, you strike a rock.”

That spirit lives on in every woman who stands tall in the face of hardship and keeps moving her community forward.

A Call to Action

While progress has been made, significant challenges remain. Women in mining communities still face barriers such as limited access to capital, lack of land ownership, and gender-based violence. As the MDA, we believe that women’s empowerment cannot be achieved in isolation it requires partnerships across government, civil society, and the private sector.

This Women’s Month, we call on all stakeholders to commit to building systems that truly support women’s advancement. That means investing in women-owned businesses, providing equitable access to education and training, and creating safe environments where women can thrive without fear.

The Mineworkers Development Agency reaffirms its commitment to walking alongside women in mining communities.

We will continue to invest in initiatives that give women the skills, confidence, and resources to shape their futures. More than that, we will continue to listen to women’s voices because they know best what their communities need.

* Luthando Brukwe, Head of Strategy at the Mineworkers Development Agency

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.