Mankuroane encourages women to do daunting jobs

Tsholofelo Mankuroane, a truck operator at Anglo American’s Kumba Iron Ore in the Northern Cape, views her career of being a woman in the mining industry as living a bold, courageous and flexible life.

Mankuroane has been working at the mines for over a decade, doing various jobs.

Five years ago the 40-year-old started driving heavy duty trucks moving soil from the dumping site to the crusher.

Mankuroane says she joined the mining industry to prove that she was capable of doing the same job as men. She says women should be treated and paid the same as men.

“I’m very proud of my job because I can do the work that other men cannot do. Most men are afraid of this dump truck. So they’re afraid to operate this big machine. We must not depend on men, we must depend on ourselves. We suffer because we’re working 13 hours every day,” says Mankuroane.

Supervisor of the mine Tshiamo Modise says at this mine there’s equal treatment.

“There’s no difference between women and men. We’re working with sister Tsholo and I have been supervising her for such a long time now. Operating a truck is not such a big deal for them,” says Modise.

Mankuroane wants women to draw strength from her story and not be intimidated by daunting jobs, previously reserved for men.