May 16Produced by Amos Phago
In February 2012, 27-year old Binkie Mosiane was raped and killed while working underground at Amplats’ Khomanani mine in Rustenburg. So far police have not made any arrests. In this episode ofSpecial Assignmentwe follow up on her case in highlighting the ongoing plight of women in the mining sector. A year later, her family is still struggling to come to terms with how she died and her mother, Mary Mosiane, is calling for the truth clouding her daughter’s death.
May marks workers’ month where the milestones reached in ensuring the protection of workers are celebrated, yet women workers in this sector still have a long way to go. From the 1800’s the sector has generally been dominated by men because physical strength was required to perform the mining functions at that time. However, due to improved technologymanual labour has been drastically reduced.
As part of addressing the legacy of the past, which includes the exclusion of women in key industries, the post 1994 government began a journey to transform the sector by insisting on the inclusion of women at various levels of the sector. A major breakthrough was made in 2002 when the mining charter was adopted.Amongst others, the charter seeks to ensure more representation of women in strategic positions in the mining industry. So far women are said to constitute about 10% of the total mining workforce.
Although transformation in the industry has been welcomed, female mine workers continue to remain marginalised and vulnerable and more still needs to be done to ensure their safety.
For more information contact:The Special Assignment office: 011 714 6758/6451Executive producer: Busisiwe Ntuli: 083 346 7291
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