WeeklySA_AdminDEVELOPMENT: A new mentorship initiative launched by SEIFSA and Danish Industries seeks to fast-track women into leadership positions in South Africa’s metals, engineering and manufacturing sectors…
By WSAM Reporter
South Africa’s metals, engineering and manufacturing sectors are taking a decisive step towards strengthening female leadership through the launch of the Women of Steel – Women’s Leadership Mentoring Programme.
The six-month pilot initiative, launched by the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) in partnership with the Danish Industries (DI) Gender Inclusion Initiative, aims to accelerate the advancement of women into senior leadership positions across the industry.
Industry executives, mentors and mentees gathered at the Southern Sun OR Tambo International Airport on May 28, to mark the launch of the programme, which combines structured mentorship, leadership development and professional support to help emerging female leaders navigate the path to executive roles.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to build a more inclusive and representative industry by equipping high-potential women with the skills, networks and confidence needed to succeed in leadership positions.
The programme’s curriculum is centred on five key areas: leadership identity and goal setting, communication and influence, emotional intelligence and resilience, leadership presence, and career progression strategy.
Participating companies have nominated senior executives to serve as mentors, while emerging female professionals have been selected as mentees.
Organisers say the approach is designed to promote knowledge transfer, succession planning and leadership development throughout the sector.
Delivering the keynote address, Weir Minerals Africa managing director Bridget Ledwaba highlighted the importance of mentorship in shaping future industry leaders. She encouraged women to build strong support networks and seek sponsorship opportunities that can help open doors to leadership positions.
Ledwaba also challenged the perception that mentorship should be limited to women, urging participants to embrace male mentors as allies who can advocate for their advancement in spaces where women remain underrepresented.
SEIFSA industrial relations executive and co-programme lead Vuyiswa Miya-Mokwana said, while progress has been made in advancing women in the workplace, significant challenges remain in achieving meaningful representation at senior leadership levels.
Co-programme lead and SEIFSA human capital and skills development executive Zizile Nyawo outlined the structure of the programme and the expectations placed on both mentors and mentees. She said the initiative is designed to develop leadership capability, facilitate knowledge sharing and create sustainable pathways for women to advance within the sector.
Thuthukisa director Preggy Chetty provided participants with practical guidance on building successful mentoring relationships, stressing the importance of accountability, goal setting and active engagement throughout the programme.
An important component of the initiative is the use of psychometric assessments to help participants better understand their strengths and development areas.
LC People Grow Consulting director Lolly Chetty said the assessments would support a more holistic approach to leadership development.
SEIFSA chief executive officer Tafadzwa Chibanguza reaffirmed the federation’s commitment to advancing female leadership in the industry and expressed hope that the initiative would grow beyond its pilot phase into a permanent programme.
Organisers believe that by investing in women leaders today, the industry will be better positioned to address future skills shortages, strengthen succession planning and drive transformation across the metals and engineering value chain.
SEIFSA represents 16 independent employer associations in the metal and engineering industries, collectively comprising more than 1 300 companies and employing over 140 000 people across South Africa. Established in 1943, the federation’s membership ranges from large steel manufacturers to small and medium-sized enterprises operating throughout the sector.
