From shared vision to empowering women: The story behind BWIM

MIDDELBURG — What began in 2023 as a partnership between two women determined to help transform the male-dominated mining industry has grown into a network of women-owned businesses.

That organisation is Business Women in Mining (BWIM), founded on Ntombi Mahlangu’s vision of seeing Black women-owned businesses grow, thrive and take the lead in the mining sector.

Co-founder Fehmida Silas, who is also the founder and owner of Middelburg-based Black women-owned engineering firm JFK Business Solutions, says the journey began when Mahlangu approached her to help turn that vision into reality.

“Ntombi recognised that women, particularly Black women, continue to face significant barriers when trying to establish themselves in an industry that has historically been dominated by men,” Silas says.

“Her vision was not only to create opportunities for women in mining, but to break barriers, empower and mentor women and young people, and uplift communities. She wanted a platform where women could learn, grow, support one another, and access opportunities to become sustainable and successful.”

Silas says she brought her own experience in the mining sector to the partnership.

“Having faced challenges myself within the mining sector, I understood first-hand the difficulties that women-owned businesses encounter. My vision was to help women-owned companies become stronger, more compliant, and better prepared to operate within the mining sector,” she says.

“I wanted to help women understand how to navigate challenges, how to position their businesses, and importantly, how to approach and engage with mining houses professionally and effectively.”

BWIM was officially established in 2023, with Mahlangu as founder and Silas as co-founder. What started with two women soon expanded as more members joined, bringing their own experience, knowledge and expertise.

“BWIM was therefore not created simply as another organisation. It was born out of a genuine desire to see women succeed where barriers have traditionally stood in their way,” Silas says.

“Our purpose is to encourage women to believe in their businesses, equip them with knowledge and skills, mentor them through challenges, and create pathways for them to engage meaningfully with the mining sector.”

For Silas, the impact of supporting women-owned businesses extends beyond individual companies.

“When women-owned businesses grow, they create opportunities, contribute to local economies, develop young people, and help build stronger communities.”

She says the organisation’s vision remains focused on increasing the participation and leadership of Black women in the engineering and mining sectors.

“We want to see more well-established Black women in the engineering sector. We want to see Black women not only participating in mining, but leading, owning, designing, engineering, innovating and making decisions. We want to see more Black women owning engineering companies that are sustainable, compliant and capable of competing at the highest levels.”

Most importantly, she adds, young women should be able to see themselves reflected in leadership positions across the sector.

“We want young Black women to look at an engineer, a mining executive, a business owner or a project leader and say: ‘I can become that too.’”

As part of its efforts to equip women-owned businesses, BWIM, in partnership with Absa, will host a Business Finance Masterclass aimed at women entrepreneurs in the mining value chain.

Silas says the masterclass will be held on 29 September 2026 at 09:00 at ANEW Hotel in Witbank, under the theme “Practical Insights. Smarter Decisions. Stronger Growth.”

“This masterclass is about practical insights, smarter decisions and stronger growth. We will be empowering women with financial knowledge – how to manage their business finances, how to access funding, how to be compliant and how to grow sustainable businesses within the mining sector,” she says.

“We know that many women-owned businesses struggle with finance, and this masterclass will give you the tools you need.”

The session will focus on financial management, access to funding and sustainable growth strategies.

Silas calls on women in mining, suppliers and emerging entrepreneurs to book their places early as seats are limited.

“BWIM is about women supporting women, women opening doors for women, and women creating opportunities where there were once barriers. This is our journey. This is our purpose. And this is the vision that we continue to build together,” she concludes.