SEDIBENG.– The Executive Mayor of the Emfuleni Local Municipality, Hassan Mako, addressed young schoolgirls on Wednesday to welcome Eskom’s ‘Girls in Mining Tour’ at the Lethabo Power Station.

The national power supplier hosted pupils from various local schools at the power station’s auditorium. The event formed part of Women’s Month and marked the 70th anniversary of the 1956 Women’s March.

Mako said that the initiative is a vital step towards empowering young women and promoting gender equality in South Africa. He praised Eskom for allowing girls to explore careers in the mining and energy sectors, calling the programme a valuable contribution to skills development, economic inclusion, and transformation.

He explained that empowering women in these industries strengthens Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) and helps tackle poverty, unemployment, and gender-based violence and femicide.

“When we empower young girls to pursue careers in mining and energy, we are not just changing individual lives, we are reshaping the objectives of black economic empowerment on a scale never seen before. We are building a new generation of women who will own, lead, and transform these industries,” Mako said.

I urge young women to enter careers in science, engineering, mining, and energy with confidence.

Mako announced that the municipality will endeavour to partner with Eskom to create more opportunities for young women. These will include career guidance, mentorship, skills programmes, learnerships, and employment pathways in the mining and energy fields.

He concluded by urging young women to enter careers in science, engineering, mining, and energy with confidence, while reaffirming the council’s dedication to supporting programmes that uplift women and build a more inclusive economy.