South Africa’s metals, engineering and manufacturing industries have long been recognised as pillars of economic growth, industrial development and job creation. Yet while these sectors have evolved technologically and commercially over the decades, leadership representation has not always reflected the diversity of the workforce powering them.
That reality is beginning to change.
A bold new initiative launched by the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA), in partnership with the Danish Industries (DI) Gender Inclusion Initiative, is seeking to strengthen the pipeline of female leaders across the industry and create lasting opportunities for women to thrive at the highest levels of business leadership.
The Women of Steel – Women’s Leadership Mentoring Programme was officially launched on 28 May 2026 at the Southern Sun OR Tambo International Airport, bringing together industry executives, mentors, mentees and transformation advocates around a shared vision: putting more women in the driving seat of South Africa’s industrial future.
Turning Potential Into Leadership
The six-month pilot programme has been designed to accelerate the advancement of women into leadership positions within the metals, engineering and manufacturing sectors.
At its core, the initiative recognises a challenge faced by many industries globally: talented women are entering the workforce, but too few are progressing into senior leadership positions at the pace needed to build truly representative organisations.
The Women of Steel programme aims to address that challenge through structured mentorship, professional development, leadership training and strategic support.
Rather than focusing solely on technical competence, the programme takes a holistic approach to leadership development, helping participants build the confidence, networks and capabilities required to navigate increasingly complex leadership environments.
The programme also serves as an important succession-planning tool, ensuring that businesses are actively investing in the next generation of industry leaders.
Five Pillars of Leadership Development
The curriculum has been built around five carefully selected leadership pillars that reflect the realities of modern executive leadership.
Participants will focus on:
- Leadership identity and goal setting
- Communication and influence
- Emotional intelligence and resilience
- Leadership presence
- Career progression strategy
Together, these pillars are intended to help emerging female leaders strengthen both their professional effectiveness and personal leadership styles.
The programme pairs high-potential women with experienced senior leaders nominated by participating companies, creating valuable opportunities for knowledge transfer, guidance and long-term professional growth.
Mentorship as a Catalyst for Change
One of the central themes emerging from the launch was the transformative role mentorship can play in accelerating leadership development.
Delivering the keynote address, Bridget Ledwaba, Managing Director of Weir Minerals (Africa), highlighted the importance of structured mentorship, sponsorship and strong professional alliances in creating pathways for future leaders.
Ledwaba emphasised that women should not shy away from seeking male mentors and sponsors within organisations, encouraging them instead to view male colleagues as important allies capable of opening doors and championing their advancement in spaces where representation may still be limited.
Her message reinforced a broader truth increasingly recognised across global industries: meaningful inclusion requires collaboration from leaders across all levels and backgrounds.
Creating Sustainable Pathways for Progress
The programme’s architects believe sustainable transformation requires more than good intentions.
It requires systems, accountability and deliberate action.
Vuyiswa Miya-Mokwana, Co-Programme Lead and SEIFSA Industrial Relations Executive, provided insight into the broader context behind the initiative, acknowledging the progress already made in advancing women within the workplace while highlighting the continued need for interventions that support career progression and greater representation at senior levels.
Meanwhile, Co-Programme Lead and SEIFSA Human Capital and Skills Development Executive Zizile Nyawo outlined the programme’s structure, detailing the responsibilities of mentors and mentees and reinforcing the initiative’s focus on leadership capability development and long-term industry transformation.
The goal is not simply to create individual success stories.
It is to build a sustainable leadership ecosystem that continuously develops women capable of leading organisations, influencing industries and shaping the future direction of the sector.
The Importance of Self-Awareness in Leadership
An important component of the programme is a detailed psychometric assessment conducted for participating mentees.
According to Lolly Chetty, Director at LC People Grow Consulting, this process provides valuable insights that support well-rounded leadership development.
By helping participants better understand their strengths, behavioural tendencies and development areas, the assessments create a foundation for more targeted personal and professional growth.
Combined with mentorship and structured learning, the approach aims to equip participants with both the self-awareness and practical skills needed to thrive in leadership environments.
Beyond a Pilot Programme
SEIFSA Chief Executive Officer Tafadzwa Chibanguza used the launch to reaffirm the federation’s commitment to advancing female leadership across the metals and engineering sector.
Importantly, Chibanguza expressed the aspiration that Women of Steel would evolve beyond its pilot phase and become a permanent institutional initiative that continuously nurtures leadership talent within the industry.
Such a vision reflects growing recognition that leadership diversity is not simply a social objective.
It is a business imperative.
Organisations that cultivate diverse leadership teams are often better positioned to innovate, solve complex challenges and respond to changing market conditions.
By investing in leadership development today, the industry is laying the groundwork for a stronger, more resilient future.
Shaping the Industry of Tomorrow
The Women of Steel programme arrives at a significant moment for South Africa’s industrial economy.
As industries navigate technological disruption, skills shortages and evolving workforce expectations, leadership development has become more important than ever.
The challenge is no longer simply attracting talent.
It is ensuring that talent has a clear pathway to leadership.
By creating opportunities for mentorship, professional growth and succession planning, SEIFSA and its partners are taking an important step towards building a more inclusive and representative industry.
The programme sends a powerful message: leadership potential exists throughout the sector. The task now is to ensure that opportunity exists alongside it.
If successful, Women of Steel could become more than a mentorship programme.
It could become a blueprint for how industries develop the leaders needed to drive South Africa’s economic future.
