The development of a stronger pipeline of female leaders in South Africa's metals, engineering and manufacturing sectors is the focus of the Women of Steel – Women's Leadership Mentoring Programme, launched by the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) in partnership with the Danish Industries (DI) Gender Inclusion Initiative.

Industry leaders, executives, mentors and mentees gathered on 28 May 2026 at the Southern Sun OR Tambo International Airport to launch the six-month pilot programme, which seeks to accelerate the advancement of women into leadership positions across the sector through structured mentorship, leadership development and professional support.

The programme forms part of a broader commitment to building a more inclusive and representative industry by equipping high-potential women with the skills, networks and confidence required to progress into senior leadership roles.

The curriculum is built around five core pillars:

• Leadership identity and goal setting
• Communication and influence
• Emotional intelligence and resilience
• Leadership presence
• Career progression strategy

Participating companies nominated senior leaders to serve as mentors and emerging female leaders as mentees, creating a platform for knowledge transfer, leadership development and succession planning across the industry.

Delivering the keynote address, Bridget Ledwaba, Managing Director of Weir Minerals (Africa), emphasised the importance of structured mentorship as a mechanism for developing future industry leaders. She highlighted the role of sponsorship, strong alliances and leadership development in creating more inclusive workplaces and strengthening the leadership pipeline across the metals and engineering sector. She said, adding that women should not avoid male mentors but rather lean on them as allies to champion them in the spaces they are not yet welcome.

Vuyiswa Miya-Mokwana, Co-Programme Lead and SEIFSA Industrial Relations Executive, provided the broader context for the initiative, outlining the progress made in advancing women in the workplace while highlighting the continued need for deliberate interventions that support career progression and greater representation of women in senior positions.

Zizile Nyawo, Co-Programme Lead and SEIFSA Human Capital and Skills Development Executive, outlined the structure of the programme and explained the roles and expectations of mentors and mentees. She emphasised the programme's focus on developing leadership capability, facilitating knowledge transfer and creating sustainable pathways for women to advance within the industry.

Preggy Chetty, Director at Thuthukisa, provided practical guidance on effective participation in mentoring relationships, highlighting the importance of goal setting, accountability and intentional engagement to maximise the developmental impact of the programme.

The programme includes a detailed phychometric assessment of the mentees, which Lolly Chetty, Director at LC People Grow Consulting explained the importance of this step to achieving all round development of the mentees. 

SEIFSA Chief Executive Officer, Tafadzwa Chibanguza, gave his full support to the Women of Steel initiative and reaffirmed SEIFSA's commitment to advancing female leadership within the metals and engineering sector. He expressed the aspiration that the programme would evolve beyond the pilot phase into a long-standing institutional initiative that continuously develops leadership talent and contributes to a more inclusive and representative industry.

As the pilot programme progresses, SEIFSA and its partners will continue to evaluate opportunities to expand and institutionalise the initiative as part of the federation's broader commitment to industry development and transformation.